Okorocha reassures teachers of prompt payment of salaries

Governor Okorocha in handshake with some of the teachers during the 2015 World Teachers' Day celebration held at Heroes Square, Owerri

The Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha celebrated this year’s teachers day with a firm promise to the teachers that their salaries will always be paid as at when due.

The Governor stated this at the 2015 World Teachers Day held at the Heroes Square, Owerri today.  He expressed his pleasure with the teachers for keeping faith with his administration in its quest to eradicate poverty and illiteracy in the state through the provision of free education.  He said his love for teachers has made them the envy of other civil servants and vowed that not even the present economic situation of the country which has drastically reduced the allocation given to state can separate him from the teachers.

Speaking further, the Governor described the teachers as the custodian of the children’s future and as such should emulate Christ in shaping the lives of the children under their tutelage.

He reminded all present that the best legacy one can give to a child is education because education is power.

The Governor stated that on assumption of office four years ago, Imo state had about eleven thousand teachers but now, that number has been doubled to accommodate the rising increase in the number of intakes as a result of the free education. He said that 305 schools have been constructed by his administration and the old schools within the Owerri municipality have been renovated.

He called on the teachers to reciprocate government gesture by being dedicated to their duties. The governor equally expressed his desire to introduce a Teachers adjustment programme which will be geared towards making sure that every teacher is entitled to twenty five students and which will equally ensure that the concept of teachers packing in few schools in the town to the detriment of schools in the rural areas is stopped and addressed.

Earlier, in his address the NUT State Chairman Sir Napoleon Aniche re affirmed the total support, loyalty and commitment of the teachers to the rescue mission government.  He stated equivocally that since the creation of Imo State in 1976 that without fear of contradiction no past government has identified with the teachers like the present government.

The NUT boss re-emphasized that the teachers in the state have entered into irrevocable bond either to sail or sink with the Governor. He stressed that the theme of the celebration “Empowering Teachers, Building Sustainable Societies” is very apt and in tandem with governor Okorocha’s vision of free and qualitative education.

The teachers’ boss equally brought to the attention of the governor some of their challenges which include; the plight of the retired primary school teachers, regular payment of running costs to school heads, inadequate teachers, and donation of land for the building of Teachers village.

Contributing, the national president of NUT, Comrade Michael Olukoya in his message thanked the Governor for prompt payment of teachers’ salaries despite the current economic challenges facing the nation and called for its sustainability.