Education
Obaseki, Edo education commissioner absent at annual Teacher's Day event
Written By: Enahoro Iyemefokhai
06 Oct 2024 07:23 AM
Benin, Edo – Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Commissioner for Education Joan Oviawe and the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Mrs. Salami Ozavize, were conspicuously absent as teachers celebrated the 2024 World Teachers Day in the state.
The 2024 World Teachers Day has as its theme “Valuing Teachers’ Voices Towards New Social Contract for Education.”
According to DAILY POST, this year’s celebration was the opposite of the previous years where the secretariat of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, popularly known as “Teachers House,” was a beehive of activities and unfair.
The Edo State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Odion Olaye, who is the number one worker in the state, was also absent at the celebration.
Since his assumption as governor of the state in 2016, Obaseki has never failed to grace the Teachers Day celebration. This year’s celebration was the last he was supposed to attend as his administration ends on November 12, 2024.
Besides the absence of the state government functionaries at the occasion, no fewer than 100 teachers, however, attended the occasion.
Speaking to newsmen on the low attendance of members and absence of state government functionaries at the celebration, the Edo State chairman of NUT, Bernard Gbenga Ajobiewe, attributed their absence to the high cost of living in the country as well as the aftermath of the just concluded governorship election in the state.
According to him: “Today’s celebration is just low-key because of the situation in the country, the hike in prices of fuel, and the high cost of living; that is why some teachers could not make it to this place.
“It is not out of place, and it is also globally recognised that Nigeria is passing through financial, fuel crises, and other challenges. That is why the low turnout is evident today.
“You are also aware that in Edo State, the governorship election was just conducted and people are worn out. Though government functionaries were invited, most of them were not in town.
“And few representatives were sent to represent them, and not that government functionaries are not here completely,” he said.
The 2024 World Teachers Day has as its theme “Valuing Teachers’ Voices Towards New Social Contract for Education.”
According to DAILY POST, this year’s celebration was the opposite of the previous years where the secretariat of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, popularly known as “Teachers House,” was a beehive of activities and unfair.
The Edo State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Odion Olaye, who is the number one worker in the state, was also absent at the celebration.
Since his assumption as governor of the state in 2016, Obaseki has never failed to grace the Teachers Day celebration. This year’s celebration was the last he was supposed to attend as his administration ends on November 12, 2024.
Besides the absence of the state government functionaries at the occasion, no fewer than 100 teachers, however, attended the occasion.
Speaking to newsmen on the low attendance of members and absence of state government functionaries at the celebration, the Edo State chairman of NUT, Bernard Gbenga Ajobiewe, attributed their absence to the high cost of living in the country as well as the aftermath of the just concluded governorship election in the state.
According to him: “Today’s celebration is just low-key because of the situation in the country, the hike in prices of fuel, and the high cost of living; that is why some teachers could not make it to this place.
“It is not out of place, and it is also globally recognised that Nigeria is passing through financial, fuel crises, and other challenges. That is why the low turnout is evident today.
“You are also aware that in Edo State, the governorship election was just conducted and people are worn out. Though government functionaries were invited, most of them were not in town.
“And few representatives were sent to represent them, and not that government functionaries are not here completely,” he said.
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