Delta Assembly pledges support for teachers

The Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has assured local government teachers in the state of the state legislature support in their quest for autonomy and viability, just as he dissuaded allegations that the state government had turned deaf ears to the teachers plight, stressing that the government would soon Marshall out modalities to ameliorate their issues.

The Speaker gave the assurance, Wednesday July 5 while addressing members of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), during a nationwide mega rally led to the gates of the State Assembly Complex 

Rt. Hon. Oborevwori who broke security protocol by opening the gates of the State Assembly Complex to the rally, said no good government turn deaf ears to the issues confronting its people, adding that the Senator Ifeanyi Okowa led government is aware of the plights of the people and would address them when they are within his jurisdiction.

Earlier, while presenting their issues, State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Comrade Jonathan Jemirieyigbe called on the state legislature to ensure that the payment of primary school teachers’ salaries be taken over by the state governments in order to prevent the education sub sector from imminent collapse.

He observed that primary school teachers are being owed salaries for months in a number of states with Delta State not excluded, adding that it not only affects the survival of teachers, but portends great danger for the future of under-privileged children in the country.

Comrade Jemirieyigbe commended the Speaker for his humility and stated that the NUT is not totally against Local Government autonomy, but the Union is concerned about the likelihood of scrapping the State Joint Local Government Account which would mean taking primary education back to the dark pre-1994 era.

According to him, the Local Governments neither have the capacity nor the political will to fund and manage primary schools in the country, stressing that any attempt as such is tantamount to consigning primary education to the abyss of total collapse.

Meanwhile, the State House of Assembly Wednesday July 5 adopted reports on a bill for the establishment of Delta State Sickle Cell Centre and passed two bills, Delta State Public Occupational Safety Bill, 2017 and Delta State Manufacturing and Use of Deep Canoes Regulatory Bill, 2017.

While Hon. Angela Nwaka seconded the report motion by the Majority Leader, Hon Tim Owhefere, motions for the two bills were seconded by Hon. Anthony Elekeokwuri and Hon. Okagbare Uviejitobor.

Presenting the report, Chairman of the Adhoc Committee, Hon. Alphonsus Ojo said the committee in order to present a bill that would meet the aspirations of both Deltans and non Deltans who are victims of the ravaging Sickle Cell Disease, expanded the spectrum of coverage by overhauling the entire bill to be in line with present best practice in health management in areas of control, prevention and management of sickle cell.

Hon. Ojo said in achieving the goals, the committee undertook a thorough consultation with relevant stakeholders, including professional bodies, within and outside the state, working visit to major sickle Cell Centres and establishments, collations of memoranda from relevant group, NGOs and Ministry of Health, Delta State.

The committee, however proposed, after a careful scrutiny of the relevant materials, that certain amendments be made as contained in annexure 1, indicating deletions and insertions.

The bill was slated for committee of the House and third reading on Tuesday 12, July, 2017.

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