In a move to boost the morale of its pubic-primary school staffs, the Lagos State Government has honoured 950 teachers with meritorious awards.
This came after they have put in about 30 years of active service to the basic education sector.
Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King, hinted that it was the effort of the governor in organising the maiden long service award for the public primary school sector.
Represented by the Permanent Board Member, School Support Services, LASUBEB, Dr. Saheed Ibikunle, Alawiye-King, revealed that the award was given to over 1000 teachers and non-teachers, “but about 950 of them are teachers who have spent over 30 years in this service to the state.”
According to him, the award is to attest to the career milestone of serving the Lagos State Government in the educational sector.
“The sector has been properly manned by your competences, experience and expertise which cannot be bought with money; as you have every opportunity to switch to another profession.
“You came in and remained loyal, dedicated to the service and this is the appreciation for your long service. For you to have stabilized the educational sector in the state, you were at the forefront during the hard times which allowed the state to set the pace in the country.”
To him, it is a symbiotic relationship between the state and the teachers.
“So please with the things you have benefitted from the state, start mentoring other upcoming teachers in the sector with all the training and experiences.”
Seen as an unprecedented gesture by the government, stakeholders in the basic education described it as a dream come true.
The Chairman of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Akintoye Hassan, who appreciated the governor for being magnanimous to teachers in the state with the introduction of awards.
“This is a struggle that the NUT has been fighting for since the history of LASUBEB. This has always been in our memorandum of understanding with the government.
The primary school teachers must also enjoy what the secondary schools are enjoying.”
Also represented by the State Secretary, NUT, Mr. Ayetoba Gbenga, who urged the teachers to steer clear from illegality and “do things in line with rules and regulation to make the work of the union easy,” he said.
For the teachers, they expressed satisfaction, but, however, called on the governor to do more to encourage them in their service to humanity.
