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World Teachers’ Day: Jubilation As Obaseki Adds Extra Half-month Bonus To 13th Month Salary

Published

2 years ago

October 5, 2023

…says they are building foundation for Edo greatness

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has promised to pay teachers in the state an extra half-month bonus in December, in addition to the 13th-month salary to be paid to all workers in the State, as part of gifts to celebrate the teachers on the occasion of this year’s World Teachers’ Day.

Obaseki made the promise while addressing the teachers during an event to mark the day in the State, with the theme, “The teachers we need for the education we want,” held at the Conference Hall of Teachers House in Siluko Road, Benin City.

Commending the teachers for their role in societal development, Obaseki promised to ensure better welfare for the teachers, providing them with the skills, tools, and other incentives to effectively deliver on their roles in society.

The governor said: “Teachers say I should give them palliative or gift for today. I have already promised all workers in Edo State that you will get your 13th month salaries this year. What I will add as a gift to celebrate the teachers because of the World Teachers Day celebration is that all the teachers will get an additional half-month bonus.”

Acknowledging the teachers for supporting the government’s reforms in the education sector, which has made Edo a model State in tackling learning poverty, the governor noted, “With the transformation we have taken in basic education, Edo is now a model to be copied globally as the world is asking us how we did it. I tell them anywhere I go that my teachers are the ones who did it.

“Edo children are no longer known for learning poverty. The world is talking about EdoBEST. Learning poverty is when a child that is up to 10 years old can’t read a complete sentence or write. We say such a child is suffering from learning poverty.

“As a government, we owe our teachers in the State and are grateful to them for what they are doing for the future of Edo State as the children they teach are the future of the State. Our teachers are building the future of Edo State, which is human resources.”

He continued: “I recall in 2018, I told the teachers that we have to do something and transform the education sector in Edo. But the problem we had in the past was that of trust because of failed promises over the years.

“But in six years, my administration has been able to build trust which is the foundation of anything in life. With trust, we have changed the landscape of education in Edo State. We still have challenges and problems to solve but they are not unique to us. We have done our best to improve in the sector.

“Teachers are the anchor of EdoBEST reforms. You have done well for our children and the reforms are far-reaching as people are coming into the State to learn how we did it. Our doors are open for them to learn how we have achieved what we have achieved.”

A cross section of teachers at the event

Describing the theme of the celebration as apt, the governor further stated, “We believe we have already started grooming the teachers we want that will help us fulfill the educational vision we want for our future leaders.

“We have equipped our teachers in the basic schools with technological devices to enhance teaching. We have laid 2,000km of fiber optic connection across the local governments in Edo State and our plan is to connect every school and empower more teachers to give better education and information to our students.

“We will build on what we have started and pray we get a successor that believes in education and the teachers to keep the sector moving.”

Noting efforts by the government to address teachers’ shortage, Obaseki said, “The EdoSTAR programme was started to discontinue the situation where just anybody teaches our children rather than trained teachers.

“Today we have 4,500 fellow star teachers and we pay them N40,000 and observe them before finally recruiting them into the mainstream of the education sector. We will continue to address the issue of insufficient teachers in our schools.”

On his part, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUJ), Edo State Chapter, Bernard Gbenga, said the World Teachers Day celebration is set aside yearly to celebrate, appreciate, recognize, and reward teachers for their contributions to the education sector and development of society.

He further commended the governor for prioritising the welfare of the teachers in the State, and taking deliberate steps to revamp and strengthen the education sector.

Related Topics:Obaseki World Teachers Day

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VIDEO: Why I’ve Never Tried Convincing My Christian Wife To Convert To Islam — Tinubu

Published

4 hours ago

October 4, 2025

Editor

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has explained why he has never attempted to convince his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, to convert to Islam, stressing his belief in love, religious freedom, and mutual respect among people of different faiths.

Speaking on Saturday at the funeral service of Nana Lydia Yilwatda, mother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwada, Tinubu said his marriage to a Christian pastor has never created any conflict in their home.

The president, who arrived in Jos, Plateau State around 2 p.m. for the ceremony at the COCIN headquarters church, said he inherited Islam from his family and has always upheld the principle of freedom of religion.

He noted that both he and the First Lady serve the same God and would ultimately be answerable to Him, adding that what matters most are people’s deeds, character, and love for others.

Tinubu urged Nigerians to embrace tolerance and peaceful coexistence, emphasising that hate should never have a place in the country.

He also prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Lydia Yilwada and asked God to grant comfort and blessings to those she left behind.

He said, “Hate is not an option for us. Love is what you preach, that we should love one another.

“Nobody, nobody determines what God has ordained. God’s ordained action and his promises are what matter. I inherited Islam from my family. I didn’t change. But my wife is a pastor. She prays for me.

“No conflict. And I never did at any single time try to convince her or convert her. I believe in the freedom of religion.

“We are praying to the same God. We are answerable to the same almighty God. We will answer to him. We will account to him. Our deeds, our character, our love for our fellow beings are what are important.

“May the almighty accept the soul of Lydia and give all that she left behind blessings and glory, so we say, may her soul rest in peace.”

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UK Police Quiz Six After Fatal Synagogue Attack

Published

7 hours ago

October 4, 2025

Editor

Six people arrested on suspicion of “terrorism”-linked offences after a fatal car-ramming and knife attack on a UK synagogue remained in police custody on Saturday, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged people not to take part in pro-Palestinian protests.

Two people were killed and three others seriously wounded in Thursday’s attack in northwestern Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

Police shot dead the assailant, Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old UK citizen of Syrian descent, within minutes of the alarm being raised.

Three men and three women are in custody.

The attack has heightened fear among Britain’s Jewish community.

Police said they were patrolling places of worship across the city “with a particular focus on providing a high-visibility presence within our Jewish communities”.

The attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in north Manchester was one of the worst antisemitic incidents in Europe since the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel led by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive on the Gaza Strip has killed at least 66,288 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, according to health ministry figures in the occupied territory that the United Nations considers reliable.

The Gaza conflict has inflamed passions in Britain, with frequent pro-Palestinian rallies in cities that some critics allege have stoked antisemitism.

A “global movement for Gaza UK” protest went ahead in London late on Thursday, with police making 40 arrests.

London’s Metropolitan Police asked organisers delay another planned demonstration backing the banned Palestine Action group later on Saturday.

However, organisers Defend Our Juries rejected the calls.

A spokesman said the group “stood in solidarity” with the Jewish community over the attack.

– Accidental shooting –

Starmer urged protesters not to join the pro-Palestinian rally.

“I urge anyone thinking about protesting this weekend to recognise and respect the grief of British Jews. This is a moment of mourning. It is not a time to stoke tension and cause further pain,” he said on X.

During the attack, Shamie was seen “with a big knife, banging his knife into the glass, trying to get through”, synagogue chairman of trustees Alan Levy, who helped barricade the doors, told ITV News.

“The heroes of the congregation who saw what was happening then came to the doors because he was trying to break the doors down to get in,” he added.

A UK police watchdog, meanwhile, said it would look at the police shooting of Shamie.

The probe would also look at the shooting of a second victim who suffered a fatal gunshot and a third person who was shot but survived.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said there was no evidence anyone other than police used firearms at the scene.

“Our independent investigation will look at the circumstances surrounding the fatal police shooting of Jihad Al-Shamie,” it said in a statement.

“A post mortem has today (Friday) concluded another man who died at the scene suffered a fatal gunshot wound.”

IOPC investigations are standard practice in situations where the use of force by police may have resulted in the death of a member of the public.

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Edo Inaugurates Committee On Drug Abuse, Healthy Living

Published

11 hours ago

October 4, 2025

Editor

L-R: ACGN, NDLEA, Fidelis Cocodia, Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon. Dennis Idahosa and Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani during the Inauguration

Edo State Government has inaugurated Drug Control Committee for the state and local governments, aimed at curbing the menace of drug abuse in the state.

Inaugurating the committee, Governor Monday Okpehbolo said the committee was not only saddled with the responsibility of curbing the menace of illicit substances, but to promote healthier living across communities in the state.

Represented by his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Okpebholo described the initiative as “a vital step in our unwavering commitment to stopping the menace of drug trafficking and substance use among youths.”

The governor, who bemoaned the rising tide of drug dependency and its impact on society, pointed out that the committee’s creation aligns with the national drug master plan and represents a bold stride toward protecting Edo future generations.

On his part, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, represented by ACGN, Fidelis Cocodia, Zonal Commander, Zone 13, emphasised grassroots interventions, awareness campaigns, and support systems as the backbone of the fight against drug abuse.

Edo State commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju disclosed that while national drug use prevalence stands at 14.4 percent, Edo state surpasses the average at 15 percent.

He noted that the state is one of the hardest-hit states in the country, warning that the trend has fueled crime and heightened youth vulnerability.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole pledged to make Edo a model in drug control through rehabilitation, youth enlightenment, and second-chance opportunities for recovering addicts.

Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, described drug abuse as a pandemic, noting that “you hardly see a crime without drugs being involved.”

She added that women’s empathy and influence must be harnessed in the campaign against drug abuse.