The administration of Governor Abdullahi Alhaji Sule places high premium in the development and transformation of the education sector in Nasarawa State.
This, the Governor said “I am interested in getting qualified teachers to teach in our schools.” The Governor who was addressing 781 newly recruited secondary school teachers in the state stated this during an induction course held at Conference hall of Ta’al hotel Lafia. Governor Sule said his administration will leave no stone unturned in strengthening quality education in the state.
According to Governor Sule after his election in 2019, the United Nations (UN), World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Education called for a meeting in villa, Abuja and discussed the future of education in the country.
He said the revelation during the meeting was shocking about the number of school children that dropped out of school and the number that pass National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations in Nasarawa State. Governor Sule stated that his greatest shock was Nasarawa was always 31, 32 or 33rd position among the 36 states in the country including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
Governor Sule said at such meetings, he always bury his head in shame and this became his driving force for the right thing to be done for the sector that is the largest in the state.
Recounting how he had a sound foundation at Roman Catholic Primary School Gudi, the Governor resolved not to compromise recruiting qualified teachers to impart sound knowledge on the younger ones including provision of structures and conducive learning environment.
Governor Sule assured the new secondary school teachers that “there is enough money to pay you your salaries in full, you don’t have to worry as long as your salaries and allowances are concern”. It was pleasing to the ears of the participants and other listeners when Governor Sule further said “we have the resources to improve our structures and your condition of service, rule out corruption and ensure our education is a beacon of renewed hope for the benefit of our people.”
Governor Sule said when he discovered that the turnout of primary and secondary school products and their results were terribly bad, his administration started the search for qualified teachers to impart qualitative knowledge in primary and secondary schools in the state and further said the beauty of a teacher is his qualitative education.
The Governor said he resisted pressure and opted for the appointment to be on merit and commended the Teachers Service Commission Chairman Ambassador Timothy Kasuwa led team for doing the right thing by bringing the best during the recruitment exercise.
Governor Sule however expressed disappointment with the immediate dismissed management team of TSC whom he instructed to employ 1,500 qualified teachers but exceeded the number to 4,243 including unqualified ones and commercialized the recruitment exercise. The Governor appealed to the entire state “if you see what is going on wrong, speak we will hear you”.
In his remarks at the occasion, Emir of Lafia and Chairman, Nasarawa State Traditional Council, Justice Muhammad Sidi Bage said 45 years ago as a student at the Nigeria Law School, he did his best and urged the new teachers to do their best and impart quality knowledge for the assured future of Nasarawa State.
Chairman of the occasion, the Aguma of Bassa, HRH Dr. David Wodi Tukura said a nation’s National Development has connection with its teachers. The royal father then asked some rhetoric questions “show me your teacher and I will tell you your future, where are we now, where are we going? How do we get where we want to go?” The royal father said this depended on the education imparted on the younger generation particularly at the foundation level.
Speaking at the occasion, Chun Ngah Alhaji Adamu Amwe, who congratulated the newly employed teachers urged them to utilize the appointment as the brighter future of the state depended on them. The royal father showered praises on Governor Sule for positively changing the narrative in education sector “you are doing Nasarawa State proud and am proud that you are from Akwanga Local Government Area, particularly Akwanga West Administrative Council and you are my son. Only a magician can do what you are doing, please keep on doing what you are doing”.
Also speaking, State Head of Civil Service, Barrister Abigail Waya said Governor Sule is changing the narrative in education sector for good and that was why the recruitment of the teachers was based purely on merit. Barrister Abigail said as teachers the newly employed have the enormous responsibility doing the right thing and appealed to them to bring out the best in them. She said subsequent appointments in the state would be based on merit.
Nasarawa State Commissioner for education, Dr. John Mamman said “take off a teacher, you are going nowhere and any nation that maltreats a teacher places a curse on itself” Mamman said the best of the best is the teachers in Nasarawa State.
In her key paper presentation, an educationist and first female Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State (SSG) Dr. Zainab Talatu Ahmed said a teacher is an individual who imparts knowledge on others.
Dr. Zainab commended Governor Sule’s commitment for improved education sector has assured the state that the future of teaching profession will continue to be better because the recruitment was based on merit. She said the intellectual capacity of the Governor was challenged and its result is bringing out good products. Dr. Zainab who spoke on traditional and innovative teaching among others sub-topics thanks Governor Sule for always been considerate for budgetry allocation to education in Nasarawa State said “when you take care of the teacher, you have done 70% of what is needed to bring transformation through education.”
In his welcome address, Chairman Teachers’ Service Commission, Ambassador Timothy Kasuwa said all that the commission has been able to achieve was the spirited will of Governor Sule’s commitment to the yearnings of the people and promised the commission will not abuse the privilege given to it to serve the people.
It will be recalled that in 2019, Governor Sule approved the promotion of over 5,000 teachers in the state, began improvement of rural public schools and set up a committee headed by a retired permanent secretary Silas Dachor to re-position the state service for effective service delivery.
