Gov. Ikpeazu gives hope to sacked Abia teachers

The governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has assured that the state government was taking steps to engage the services of some of the 5, 666 teachers who were illegally employed by the Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB) in the State.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu made this promise at a meeting he held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia with the SEMB staff from Abia Central who were affected by the recent employment racketeering at the board.

The governor assured that the employment the government intends to carry out across the local government areas in the state would be done systematically and in line with the employment guidelines of Federal Character Commission. 

The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere said that the government decided to take the steps as it has discovered that there is need to employ teachers in relevant areas in some schools.

He then directed head teachers of various schools in the state that have the need for teachers, to write to the government and indicate areas they lack teachers.

He said that his government understands their plight, hence, the decision to assist them.

Governor Ikpeazu used the opportunity to explain that the waiver granted to SEMB to employ was for 187 teachers only but regretted that a total of5,853 was  employed instead. 5,853.

He stressed the need for government officials to work within the scope of their duties and not to embarrass the government by their unguarded actions.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Kanelechi Nwangwa urged school heads to inform the government of their needs in terms of teachers.

He assured that the State government would take some of the teachers formerly engaged by SEMB. He thanked the Governor for his sincere love and concerns to Abia State school system and teachers.

The acting Executive Secretary, SEMB, Lady Happiness Nwabaji appreciated the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for his listening ear and his education friendly disposition.

She appreciated him for taking measures to bring solution to the recent employment problem in the SEMB. She urged the affected teachers to be patient with the government.

In their responses, some of the affected teachers, Victor Nwadi, Eze Enyi and Onyenobya Precious thanked the Governor for feeling their plights which made him to invite them for a meeting.

They regretted the actions of the former Executive Secretary of SEMB that now affected them negatively and expressed hope that the government decisions would favour them.