By Francis Sadhere
The Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has assured local government teachers in the state of the state legislature support in their quest for autonomy and viability.
He, in the same vein, dissuaded rife allegations that the state government had turned deaf ears to their plight stressing that the government would soon Marshall out modalities to ameliorate their issues.
The Speaker gave the assurance, Wednesday while addressing members of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), during a nationwide mega rally led to the gates of the State Assembly Complex
Rt Hon. Oborevwori who broke security protocol by opening the gates of the State Assembly Complex to the rally, said no good government turn deaf ears to the issues confronting its people, adding that the Senator Ifeanyi Okowa led government is aware of the plights of the people and would address them when they are within his jurisdiction.
Earlier, while presenting their issues, State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Comrade Jonathan Jemirieyigbe called on the state legislature to ensure that the payment of primary school teachers salaries be taken over by the state governments in order to prevent the education sub sector from imminent collapse.
He observed that primary school teachers are being owed salaries for months in a number of states with Delta State not excluded, adding that it not only affects the survival of teachers, but portends great danger for the future of under privileged children in the country.
Comrade Jemirieyigbe commended the Speaker for his humility and stated that the NUT is not totally against Local Government autonomy, but the Union is concerned about the likelihood of scrapping the State Joint Local Government Account which would mean taking primary education back to the dark pre-1994 era.
According to him, the Local Governments neither have the capacity nor the political will to fund and manage primary schools in the country stressing that any attempt as such is tantamount to consigning primary education to the abyss of total collapse.
