LG AUTONOMY:Ebonyi Teachers Join in the Call for Management of Primary Education

Teachers in Ebonyi State have joined their counterparts across the country to demand for a constitutional amendment that will transfer the funding of primary Education to State Governments in the event of granting autonomy to the Local Government.

They made this known when they marched to Ebonyi State House of Assembly to register their feelings on the planned constitutional amendment.

The march was the second time in six months.

The teachers who marched from their secretariat to the State House of Assembly were carrying placards with various inscriptions such as; “We totally oppose the management of primary education by the Local Government” and “Grant Local Government autonomy but leave primary school teachers alone”.

Submitting their protest letter to the State House of Assembly, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers in Ebonyi State, Reverend Simon Ozo explained that their position was to forestall a repeat of poor funding that characterized primary education between 1990 and 1994 when it was being managed by the Local Government.

The Secretary of the Union, Comrade Max Nnaji said rather than lump the funding of primary education with Local Government autonomy, the Federal government should consider paying teachers’ salary through first line charge from Federation Account.

The Speaker of the House, Chief Francis Nwifuru represented by the member representing Ezza North West Constituency, Mr Victor Chukwu assured teachers that the lawmakers would not be part of any amendment that would mortgage the future of Nigerian children.

Mr Nwifuru commended the teachers for the peaceful approach adopted in the pursuit of their demands.

AMECHI ODO