News

World Teachers Day: Low Turnout As Obaseki, Commissioner For Education, NLC Chair, Others Absent At Annual Ceremony

Published

11 months ago

October 5, 2024

Editor

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Commissioner for Education, Joan Oviawe and the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Mrs. Salami Ozavize, were conspicuously absent as teachers celebrated the 2024 World Teachers Day in the state.

The 2024 World Teachers Day has as its theme “Valuing Teachers’ Voices Towards New Social Contract for Education.”

Unlike previous years, this year’s celebration also witnessed low turnout of teachers.

The Edo State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Odion Olaye, who is the number one worker in the state, was also absent at the celebration.

Since his assumption as governor of the state in 2016, Obaseki has never failed to grace the Teachers Day celebration. This year’s celebration was the last he was supposed to attend as his administration ends on November 12, 2024.

Besides the absence of the state government functionaries at the occasion, no fewer than 100 teachers, however, attended the occasion.

Speaking to newsmen on the low attendance of members and absence of state government functionaries at the celebration, the Edo State chairman of NUT, Bernard Gbenga Ajobiewe, attributed their absence to the high cost of living in the country as well as the aftermath of the just concluded governorship election in the state.

According to him: “Today’s celebration is just low-key because of the situation in the country, the hike in prices of fuel, and the high cost of living; that is why some teachers could not make it to this place.

“It is not out of place, and it is also globally recognised that Nigeria is passing through financial, fuel crises, and other challenges. That is why the low turnout is evident today.

“You are also aware that in Edo State, the governorship election was just conducted and people are worn out. Though government functionaries were invited, most of them were not in town.

“And few representatives were sent to represent them, and not that government functionaries are not here completely,” he said.

Meanwhile, in his address, Ajobiewe called on the state government to increase the number of teachers intended to be recruited by SUBEB into primary schools.

While noting that the number of teachers to be recruited is grossly inadequate, he appealed that the numbers to be recruited into primary should be increased to cater for the inadequacy.

The NUT chairman also called on the outgoing governor to employ EdoStar teachers with outstanding performance as permanent teachers in fulfilment of his government promises.

He said the union accepted EdoStar as a result of an acute shortage of teachers in both primary and secondary schools.

He, however, decried the failure of the state government to redeem its promise of the provision of an operational bus and a half-month salary to teachers.

“Your Excellency, sir, as promised during the 2023 World Teachers Day Celebration (today makes it a year), before the commencement of Alaghodaro Summit you are going to provide the union with an operational bus and an additional half-month salary.

Sir, Alaghodaro Summit is over; we are still waiting,” he added.

Other demands of the teachers from the state government are the building of a new teachers’ house or renovation of the existing one, provision of security, as well as the construction of perimeter fences in schools to reduce the menace of insecurity in the schools.

Ajobiewe, however, commended the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government for the training and retraining of teachers in the state, regular payment of monthly salaries, approval and the domestication of 65 years of age and 40 years of length of service.

Others are approval and payment of the N70,000 minimum wage to all workers, including primary school teachers, approval of primary school teachers promotions from January 2022 to July 2024; and creating a good relationship between the government and the union in the state.

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

19 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

20 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

20 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.