Obiano in trouble as Mr Ifeanyi Ofodile mobilizes teachers against his re-election

www.odogwublog.com reports that the 2nd term ambition of Governor Willie Obiano is been thwarted as the Anambra State branch chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr Ifeanyi Ofodile has mobilized teachers against Governor Willie Obiano. He has directed teachers to come out and protest on 28th of June, 2017.

He gave the indication in an emergency meeting of teachers in the state.

According to him academic activities in primary and secondary schools nation-wide may be paralyzed any moment soon, if the Federal Government fails to address modalities for payment of teachers in the primary school system.

Addressing members of the union at the Teachers House, Awka, the state capital, Ofodile said the industrial dispute would arise from a plot to transfer payment of primary school teachers in the country to local governments in the guise of local government autonomy.
He said “We are not against local government autonomy. What we are saying is that they should not put primary school teachers’ salaries under local government arrangement.
His address read in part, “The renewed agitation for local government autonomy has made it imperative for the Nigeria Union of Teachers to sensitize stakeholders and the general public on the danger inherent in handing over the affairs of primary education to respective local government councils should autonomy of local government be granted.
“The primary concern of the Nigeria Union of Teachers is not the issue of local government autonomy. We are of the firm belief that the provisions of the 1999 Constitution which vests the onus of funding and management of primary education on States while the local government participates as  interpreted by the Supreme Court should be upheld to save primary education from imminent collapse that may arise from local government autonomy.
“It is on this premise that the Supreme Court in the case of Attorney-General of the Federation v Attorney-General of Abia State and 35 others (2002) held that in so far as primary education is concerned, a local government council only participates with the State government in its provision and maintenance.
“The Court went further to hold that the function obviously remains that of the State government. "Concisely put, the State governments have constitutional and legislative responsibilities to provide and manage primary education.
“The NUT wishes to state in clear and unambiguous terms that the current constitutional arrangement under the 1999 Constitution for the provision and maintenance of primary education by State governments should be sustained.
Ofodile asked teachers in the state to converge on Awka on their uniform on June 28 for a street demonstration on the development, adding that similar protests would take place simultaneous nation-wide.
  He added:“If they fail to listen to us, we will be left with no other option than to go back to the trenches. That’s the only language they hear in this part of the world".

Obiano in trouble as Mr Ifeanyi Ofodile mobilizes teachers against his re-election Obiano in trouble as Mr Ifeanyi Ofodile mobilizes teachers against his re-election Reviewed by Unknown on Thursday, June 22, 2017 Rating: 5

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