We remain committed to development of education sector – Gov Aiyedatiwa

By Precious Oluwole

Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, assuring education secretaries across the 18 local government areas of government’s continued support to enable them carry out their duties effectively.

The Governor made this pledge while playing host to the members of the National Association of Education Secretaries, Ondo State Chapter in his office on Tuesday.

He commended their efforts at the grassroots, noting that they play a crucial role in implementing government policies, monitoring schools, supervising teachers, and mobilizing parents and pupils in over 1,200 communities across the state, stressing that their work provides government with real-time, unfiltered information that guides decision-making in the sector.

Governor Aiyedatiwa highlighted that education remains a key priority of his administration’s seven-point agenda, hence the recent recruitment of over 2,000 teachers to address manpower shortages in schools. He explained that the choice of a seasoned professor as Commissioner for Education further underscores the government’s resolve to reposition the sector for greater impact.

Responding to the challenges raised by the education secretaries, the Governor acknowledged the concerns over remuneration, running grants, and lack of monitoring vehicles. He assured them that government would look into the disparities with their counterparts in other states, as well as explore ways to provide functional utility vehicles to ease school supervision. “We will look into all the issues raised within the limit of available resources,” he said.

Governor Aiyedatiwa urged the education secretaries to remain dedicated in supporting government’s vision for education and pledged that his administration would continue to prioritize policies that strengthen teaching and learning in Ondo State.

Earlier, the State Chairman, National Association of Education Secretaries, Dr Martins Omololu who led the team to the visit, appreciated Governor Aiyedatiwa for his administration’s commitment to the education sector, particularly the recent recruitment of over 2,000 teachers into public primary and secondary schools, describing the development as a major relief to schools that had long grappled with shortages of teaching personnel.

While pledging their continued support for government policies and programmes, as well as commitment to ensuring quality teaching and learning in the schools across the state, he appealed for a review of their welfare package and provision utility vehicles to ease supervision across their local government areas.

In attendance were; The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti, Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa, Head of Service, Mr Bayo Philip, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun.