In efforts to ensure that Nigeria’s Educational System is of international standard, a Labour Union known as Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union COEASU Southeast Zone has organised its 7th National Conference at Ebonyi State College of Education Ikwo calling on Government to look into the challenges facing the education sector in the country.
The Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Comrade Greg Esheya made the call while addressing the Conference at the College Tertiary Education Fund Lecture Theater in Abakaliki the State Capital.
Comrade Esheya said the earlier Government heeds to the call, the better.
The National Chairman of COEASU, Dr. Smart Olugbeko said the conference was organised to address the nature of education in the country.
The Acting Chairman of COEASU Ebonyi State Chapter, Comrade Sunday Oboke urged Ebonyi State Government to look into the welfare of the College workers.
He added that “no gazette of the College for pension and gratuity, no condition of service to the staff, no internal road network in the school, incomplete salary since 2018 and promotion without financial implication among other things”.
The Provost of the College, Professor Benedict Mbam, represented by the Deputy Provost, Dr. Francis Azunku thanked the Union for Organising the conference in the institution and promised to work together with the union.
The Immediate past Provost of the College, Professor Dan Enyi said “the pandemic of poor funding and its attendant effects on Education has persisted over the years and only divine intervention and political will can salvage the situation. The average annual budget for Education has been fluctuating between 5¹/²% and 7¹/²% when many poor countries are allocating between 15 to 20%.
A member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Comrade Chinedu Ogah who was given an award of excellent service to mankind, represented by the State Your Leader of All Progressive Congress APC, Comrade Ogochukwu Elem urged COEASU and other unions to always be united.
“In pursuit of your goals, you must be one, don’t allow anyone or even Government to divide you, that is the only way you can safeguard the future of the unborn generation of this country,“ he emphasised.
The Conference also gave awards to 12 persons amongst them is Reverend Father John Okwueze Odeh.
The theme of this year’s conference was “challenges of COVID 19, Insecurity and poor funding on Teacher Education in Nigeria”.
Nnenna.O
