Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

Teachers in their thousands in Oyo State under the aegis of Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), on Wednesday, stormed major streets in Ibadan, the state capital, to protest the proposed local government autonomy. 

They however insisted that if local government autonomy is imperative, payment of primary school teachers as well as the funding and management of primary schools should be taken away as a responsibility of the local government. 

The protest rally which took off at the Agodi State Secretariat of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), was led by the state Chairman, Comrade Niyi Akano in company of the state NLC chairman, Comrade Waheed Olojede and other state executives, and ended at the state Government Secretariat, where a protest letter was delivered to the governor.

The placard carrying teachers maintained that granting autonomy to the local government either political, financial or administrative, would by implication mean transferring the management, equipping and funding of primary school education to the local government, a burden which they said will be too heavy for the third tier of government to bear.

Their placards read among others, "Nigerian Union of Teachers, Oyo State Wing, says no to local government autonomy"; "Basic education is a right of every child"; "Local government councils do not have the capacity to pay primary school teachers salaries"; "Basic education is a right and must be protected by all";  "Foundation of education in Nigeria under threat again".

"Pay teachers regularly for a sustainable primary education"; "Our children's future must be secured" and "Funding of primary education should be the responsibility of the state and federal government"

The state NUT Chairman, Comrade Akano, said the rally was not a protest against salaries arrears but a fight for the soul of primary education in the state and the country at large.

According to him,  experience has shown that local government lacks the capacity to run and fund primary education effectively particularly based on its sensitivity as the foundation of education.

Speaking in the same vein, the state NLC Chairman who is also the state NUT Secretary, Comrade Waheed Olojede, maintained that allowing local governments to take charge of the primary school education in the country is a good way of sending the sector back to the woods, noting that the teachers through the umbrella body would not support local government autonomy in any way.

He recounted that the period between 1990-1994 when LG enjoyed full autonomy was the worst for the sector as many teachers were at the mercy of council bosses before getting their salaries and entitlements.

Olojede however said if the Federal Government is insistent on granting autonomy to the local government, issues such as managing, funding and equipping of the primary schools should be transferred to the state government.

The NLC boss suggested that payment of primary school teachers salaries and entitlements should be left with the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), while also advocating for a review of the revenue allocation such that more funds would be available to the state governments to fund primary and secondary schools.

Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Adeyemo, who received the protesters on behalf of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, assured that he would deliver their demands to the governor.

Adeyemo who expressed shock at the turn out of teachers, said until the protest he had thought that the teachers are strong advocate of local government autonomy.