Service Year Review Will Mark Dawn Of An Era For Teachers- Epe NUT Chairman

It goes without a saying that the poor reward system for teachers, for a long time has been a running theme in the deprecation that has characterized Nigeria’s educational system. Despite the critical role played by teachers in imparting timeless knowledge for the betterment of society, much attention has not been paid towards revamping the reward system for teachers; a reality which was fast denigrating the merits of this noble profession.

However, in what came as a long overdue evaluation, President Muhammadu Buhari, during this year’s World Teachers Day had announced an upward review in the service year of Nigerian teachers. The President also promised an improved special wage package for teachers in recognition of their incredible hard work and sacrifice in holding down the fort despite not being given proper motivation to do so.

In the wake of the many reactions which has trailed this recent development, Eko Hot Blog recently caught up with one of the eminent and well respected teachers in Epe Local Government of Lagos State, who expressed his thoughts on the service year review as well as the state of affairs in the Epe LGA teaching landscape.

In an interview with Eko Hot Blog, the Epe Branch Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT ), Comrade Julius Adegbuyi described the review of the service year for teachers as a welcome development. Adegbuyi, who was speaking at the annual get together of Association of Retired Principals of Secondary Schools of Nigeria (ARPSSON) recently held in Epe, said that the recent upward review of the service service year of teachers in the country will allow the twilight years of their service year to be more rewarding since it will engender promotions to higher ranks within the civil service, as opposed to the previous reality which saw teachers compulsorily call time on teaching careers at a time when they would otherwise be due for higher promotions.

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Adegbuyi also dismissed the concern that age could constitute a constraint for some in of teachers in the course of discharging their duties.

” I don’t think age will have any effect in discharging their duties. Apart from that, most of our members started the job through Grade level 7 or 8, when they get to the peak of their career on grade level 17, they have lesser years to bow out, some with less than 6 months or a year plus. So, they don’t enjoy that grade level which is where they normally enjoy what they have laboured for.

“In another perspective, by the time they attain that age, they have a lesser work to do because, at the entry-level of service as a young teacher, they carry as many as possible assignments. But by the time they gradually get elevated to the higher grade level, they become the head. By that time, their duty would be to give instructions. Based on our research, in some of the countries that do well in education, teachers spend over 70-79 years of age in service. So, the more they are in service, the more experienced they are and it is always said that experience is the best teacher”, Comrade Julius said.

Adegbuyi, whose tenure expires by May 2021, also briefly highlighted his premium accomplishments as Epe NUT Chairman since assumption of office in 2013.

“I assumed office in 2013 and 7 months later, we purchased a utility bus. Previously, we operated from a rented apartment at Ita-Opo but now, we have moved to our permanent secretariat. Besides that, before I came on board, my predecessors give awards to philanthropists but I changed it. I honour and give awards to members so that they feel the expected sense of belonging.

“So far, the welfare of teachers has been our top priority. Promotion of members as and when due, advocating elongation of service and special scale salaries for teachers so that teachers will be able to rub shoulders along with other professional colleagues, not only in Lagos State but throughout the world”, he said.

He, therefore, used the medium to restate his administration’s resolve and commitment towards consolidating on existing programmes and projects in the year 2021. The annual fete of retirees on every 5th of October was also discussed. This, he said, would be rebranded and celebrated in a more befitting fashion.

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