- As Fayemi tasks teachers to lead campaign against girl defilement in schools.
The Ekiti State Chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has cautioned its members against rejecting postings to rural areas, noting that teachers can be asked to work in any part of the State.
The new NUT State Chairman, Comrade Oke Emmanuel stated this in an interview with journalists after he led the new executives of the union on a courtesy visit to Governor Kayode Fayemi in his office on Monday.
Comrade Oke who stressed that NUT would not condone or support any teacher who fails to report at his/her station across the State, assured that the union would employ dialogue in ensuring peaceful and harmonious relationship with the State Government.
The state government had last week directed that any teacher who reject posting to rural areas should tender their resignation letter.
The NUT chairman said: “The union will not condone teachers who fail to report to their duty of assignment. Once you have the opportunity to be employed as a teacher you should be prepared to work in any part of the state as determined by the authorities.
“If we have any teacher that probably for one reason or the other is having any issue beyond what he or she can contend with, then the union can come to either SUBEB or TESCOM to plead for consideration but NUT will not condone rejection of posting on flimsy excuses”
Earlier at the meeting, the NUT Chairman had commended the Governor for not interfering in the State delegate conference and election held in February. He also acknowledged the giant strides of the Dr Fayemi administration in the education sector with particular reference to teachers’ welfare and infrastructural development.
In his response to some of the demands presented by the union, Dr Fayemi assured that he would not relent in his efforts to accord priority to issues bothering on capacity development and training of teachers across the State.
The Governor also noted that teachers have key roles to play in imparting virtues that demonstrate the cultural value heritage of the state on the young ones who, according to him, are the future leaders.
Dr Fayemi who expressed concerns for the protection of young ones especially the girl child against defilement and sexual molestation, urged the new NUT executives to champion campaign against girl child defilement across schools in the State.
He said, “Where we put the children particularly the girl child under your watch and some of this children end up in cases of defilement, cases of sexual abuse, it is totally unacceptable and it is something that I believe NUT should start a campaign on yourself, so that teachers are actually the flag wavers of decent behaviour in the protection of students across the boards in our schools.
“I am sure you are aware, I have several cases on my desk involving teachers and this does not speak well to the values that we all associate with in Ekiti and it is not a matter to be left in the hands of female executives members of NUT alone, it is one that you as the chairman must champion and drive even in partnership with us we don’t mind. But it is a matter of concern to me and I believe you are in the best position to assist the state in reducing this incidences involving young people.
“We have no interest in interfering in union matters beyond the one you bring to us and that we have statutory responsibilities for which is why I made it categorically clear that I have no interest, you should go and do your election whoever you elect we will relate with. And that is how it should be.
“Ekiti teachers should be in a different class of their own because this is Ekiti, this is the land of honour, this is the fountain of knowledge and we should really demonstrate that in everything we do.”, the Governor added.
In attendance at the meeting were the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr Olabimpe Aderiye; Secretary to the State Government, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, Head of Service, Mrs Peju Babafemi; Chief of Staff, Hon Biodun Omoleye, and other top government officials in the educational sector.
