WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY: OYEBANJI REWARDS EKITI TEACHERS WITH N70.5M

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By: Fasasi Hammad

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Monday rewarded outstanding teachers across the state with N70.5 million as part of activities marking the 2026 World Teachers’ Day.

The beneficiaries, selected from public and private primary and secondary schools as well as administrative cadres, were recognised for their exceptional performance, dedication and commitment to duty.

Speaking at the celebration in Ado-Ekiti, themed “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping Our Futures,” Oyebanji called for sustained investment in teachers’ welfare and the provision of modern learning facilities.

The governor assured teachers that his administration would continue to prioritise their welfare and provide conducive working environments. He also promised that outstanding emoluments, particularly leave bonuses, would be paid soon.

Responding to requests from teachers, Oyebanji announced that the state government would construct a new ultra-modern state library, which he said had been included in the 2027 budget.

“I have listened to the leadership of NUT and let me disclose that we will be constructing a befitting state library next year. It has been captured in the 2027 budget,” he said.

The governor described teachers as critical to the development of human capital, noting that their contribution to shaping future generations could not be quantified.

He said the 2026 celebration was particularly significant as it marked 60 years since the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, adopted in Paris, which established international standards on teachers’ rights and responsibilities.

Oyebanji said the theme of the celebration aligned with his administration’s education agenda and efforts to strengthen the professional identity of teachers.

He disclosed that all 203 public secondary schools in the state now have ICT laboratories, while 125 have been equipped with 5KVA inverters and internet facilities.

According to him, several old school buildings have also been renovated or rehabilitated, while perimeter fencing has been provided for 54 public secondary schools.

He added that 48 public secondary schools had been equipped with CCTV cameras, with another 85 schools expected to receive the facilities within the month.

The governor said his administration had also continued to prioritise regular salary payments and provide revolving car and housing loans for eligible secondary school teachers.

He added that personnel shortages had been addressed through the recruitment of additional teachers into public primary and secondary schools.

According to Oyebanji, 5,530 teachers have been recruited over the past four years. The figure includes 430 teachers recruited through the Teaching Service Commission in 2022, 500 in 2023/2024 and 1,600 in 2025/2026, while SUBEB recruited 1,500 teachers in the 2022/2023 session and another 1,500 in 2026.

“Be rest assured that we will always stand with you and protect your dignity, and your place in our administration remains topmost,” the governor said.

He thanked teachers for their dedication and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving their welfare and working conditions.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Bimpe Aderiye, commended the governor’s investment in the education sector, noting that billions of naira had been committed to developments across various levels.

The state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lawrence Adedeji, and his counterpart in the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), represented by Austin Bamidele, also praised the governor for his commitment to teachers’ welfare.

They, however, urged the government to fulfil its promises regarding outstanding emoluments, stressing that teachers’ welfare and recognition should extend beyond the annual World Teachers’ Day celebration.

“Celebration of teachers should go beyond just a day in October but every day,” they said.