Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, says his government is intentional about education in the state, hence his commitment to reforming the education sector.
Otti stated this on Wednesday in his office when he received the Regional Chairman/Enugu State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT East Regional Working Committee.
He noted that his government takes education seriously and has consistently funded the education sector with 20 percent of the state’s annual budget for three consecutive years.
He said, “We are also very intentional because we know the outcomes we expect. We take education very, very seriously. And the simple reason is that none of us will probably be sitting here if we are not educated.
“And that is why we have consistently in the last three years, committed one-fifth of our budgets to education, and it will continue that way, so far as I sit here.”
The governor noted that because of his interest in education, he has renovated and built schools and has ensured better remuneration for teachers, their recruitment and training, among others.
The State Chief Executive expressed happiness that the state government is seeing positive results in the investments made in the education sector.
“We are looking at school enrolments, we are looking at the performance of the students in different areas, and those outcomes that we want to see, we work with them to ensure that the results speak.
“So, you have the facts already. And I am happy that you have listed them out. So, there is not much for me to say again,” Otti stated.
The governor appreciated them for commending his efforts towards changing the narrative in the education sector.
Earlier, the Regional Chairman/Enugu State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT East Regional Working Committee, Comrade Odo Nweke, while explaining that the body represents the nine states of the Old Eastern region, commended Otti for what he has done for teachers in Abia State and urged him to sustain the momentum.
According to him, the union had heard much about Otti and decided to come and thank him, and assured him of the support of teachers, adding: “We have heard much about Dr Alex Otti and considered it necessary to come and say, thank you sir.
“If we start to enumerate what you have done, they are many. Allocation of 20 percent of the annual budget to education, we are aware of that and also the recruitment of 5,394 teachers and the ongoing recruitment of another 4,000 teachers.
“Regular payment of teachers’ salaries, all to your glory. Payment of arrears of 17 months salaries owed by the past administration to our teachers, building of smart schools in Abia State, approval of retirement age of 65 years for teachers. They are many, sir, and we said we should come and appreciate you.”
