Governor Samuel Ortom: honoured by primary school head teachers

The Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), has honoured Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue with the title of “Father of Education in Nigeria’’.

Its National President, Mr Mahmud Lawal, who presented the award to the governor, during the association’s 2016 National Executive Council (NEC), in Makurdi, said that the honour was in recognition of his commitment to educational growth.

“The governor deserves the award for, among other things, fully implementing the minimum wage and the 27.5 per cent Teachers Peculiar Allowance, upon assumption of office.

“The governor has also revived primary school education, whose fortunes had nosedived before he came in.’’

Lawal appealed to the Federal Government to prioritise primary education, especially the payment of primary school staff.

“We want to suggest a constitutional amendment to legitimise the first line deduction of two per cent monthly federal allocation to the primary schools.

“This step will ensure prompt and regular payment of salaries, eliminate differences in salaries of SUBEB staff and engender industrial harmony,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, Ortom promised to ensure a good working environment for teachers to ensure optimal service delivery.

He commended the primary schools teachers for their commitment and dedication to the nation “in spite of the hard conditions’’.

The governor promised to rid Benue of “miracle centres’’, where results were usually manufactured, and which are usually responsible for vices like cultism, armed robbery, among others.

“We cannot afford to allow half-baked students into our tertiary institutions,’’ he said.