Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State has expressed the determination of his administration to continue to accord priority to education sector, saying education is central to any meaningful development.
Governor Abubakar says that is why his administration commits 32 percent of 2016 budget to education and recruitment of 4500 teachers to boost teacher/student ratio.
Abubakar made this disclosure when he received the 19 Northern states executives of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) who visited him in his office, weekend in Dutse.
The governor said his administration acknowledged the importance of education to human civilisation, social and economic renaissance, citing the case of countries, such as Japan, Singapore, attained economic prosperity due to the importance they accorded to education of their citizens.
The governor pointing out that his administration was poised to invest heavily on the recruitment, training and provision of infrastructure in the sector to restore its lost glory.
He said under his administration, government would provide teachers with working tools, and the teaching and learning environment be improved and would be ICT driven.
He disclosed that already, there was high-level discussion between government and leadership of the NUT on to how improve teacher’s welfare and the entire sector with the view of making its effective and efficient.
In his word: “We’re already into discussion of how to improve the sector, especially teachers’ welfare. We are considering the introduction of Rural Posting Allowance, provision of mobility to those posted to rural areas or building houses around the rural schools to encourage them and reduce their sufferings.”
The governor therefore thanked the NUT for identifying Jigawa State as suitable for their regional meeting and assured them of his support.
Earlier in his address, Dauda Maina, chairman of Northern executive council of the NUT, said their resolved to hold their meeting in Dutse was hinged on the phenomenal support Governor Badaru accorded to education.
Maina, who described the prompt payment of teachers’ salary as commendable, said Jigawa was one of the few states with the record.
He therefore solicited for the support of the state government on vehicle to the state chapter of the union and the introduction of rural posting allowance to ease their suffering.
