…As NUT hails Governor’s initiative on Education***
The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Friday, flagged-off the light up Ibadan project, highlighting that the deployment of smart LED street lighting technology has become necessary if the battle against crimes in the state capital must be meaningful.
The Governor also, only few days after reviewing the State’s 2019 Education’s budgetary allocation from three to 10 per cent, announced that budgetary allocation to the Education sector will go up to 12 per cent from 2020. He instantly bagged a unique ovasion of the teachers.
Speaking on the occasion of his 100 days in office and the flag-off of the Light Up project, which took place at the Challenge interchange near the old Ibadan Toll Gate on the Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway, Makinde assured that the project would improve the security of lives and position the state for socio-economic drive.
Makinde, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Taiwo Adisa, stressed that “the benefits accruable from the provision of standard and adequate infrastructures, particularly smart street lights, cannot be over-emphasised. It is indeed an essential component of our face-lifting and industrialisation programme.”
“Let me use the medium to reiterate our administration’s unflinching commitment to the uplifting of the welfare of our people and we shall always endeavour to bring to fruition our great dreams of better life for our citizens, be it in the rural or urban centres.
“I, therefore, appeal to all persons irrespective of political and religious affiliations to cooperate with our government in steering the ship of this state to greater heights,” Governor Makinde said.
He expressed the belief that Light Up Oyo State would improve the lives of the people in various ways and rightly position the state among the fast-growing metropolitan states of the world.
He charged the contractor of the project to be prompt in carrying out the project within a 45 day window.
He also charged him not to compromise on functionality and quality.
Governor Makinde equally called on residents of the state to give the contractor the needed support in the course of the project.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Works in the state, Professor Raphael Afonja, stated that the delivery of the smart LED streetlights infrastructure across some strategic routes within Ibadan metropolis was one of the achievements of the Governor Makinde administration towards improving security and infrastructure in the state.
Also read: Gov. Makinde promises huge investment in youth development
According to Afonja, the project approved by the Governor is worth N1.772 billion, having gone through public procurement due process and due consideration of the Executive Council, includes replacement of the existing underperforming street light fittings with improved modern technology street lights fitting and installation of new ones at the strategic routes.
The commissioner added that project’s major features would also include deployment of an improved smart LED technology street lighting, which is first of its kind in Oyo State in terms of the magnitude of deployment, efficiency and financial commitment.
Meanwhile, the Governor has indicated his determination to jerk up education budget of the State to 12 per cent from 2020, even as the state begins distribution of free textbooks and exercise books.
Fulfilling a promise he made earlier, the Governor, at the kick-off of the distribution of free textbooks and exercise books to all students in the state, cautioned that all hands must be on deck to ensure improved standards of education in the state.
“I enjoyed the same gesture from the government of Oyo State in 1980, so what we are doing today is not new.
They provided for us chairs, tables, rulers, pencils, Mathematical Sets”, Makinde said, emphasizing that he would take Oyo State to an era where education will be well-planned and well-funded.
“We need to reclaim the lost glory of Oyo State and reposition it among other states of the country.”
He expressed optimism that the state would have a better rating in next year’s school certificate examinations due to his government’s current interventions in the education sector.
Governor Makinde equally tasked the students to take their studies seriously so as to perform excellently in their various examinations.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Professor Kehinde Shangodoyin, noted that the books would go a long way to help students perform well in their academics.
In the meantime, the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Chapter, has commended the administration of Gov. Seyi Makinde, for paying attention and giving priority to the education sector in his first 100 days in office.
Mr Samson Adedoyin, the state Chairman of the union, who made the disclosure in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, said the governor had shown passion for quality and quantitative education.
“Since he came in, our salaries have been regular; he has also settled most arrears that he inherited, and our relationship with the government is now very cordial, to say the least.
“Promotion and promotion allowances have been effected; we are confident that before long, the education sector in the state will witness a turn-around. So far, we are happy with him,” he said.
Adedoyin, however, appealed to the governor for payment of the teachers’ 2018 leave bonus for Primary school teachers in the state.
“Apart from the leave bonus for our primary school teachers , we are also appealing for running grant for schools, since the administration has rightly abolished fees and introduced free education.
“There will be need to prepare adequately ahead of the new academic session; we need materials to teach and also undertake some expenses in some schools, this is where the running grants help.
“We have informed him of the above and we are absolutely confident that he will surely do something about it,” he said.
