Yakubu Busari
The National Association of Local Government Education Secretaries of Nigeria (NAESN) has honoured Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board Executive Secretary, Prof. Mathew Sule, and his counterpart from Anambra state, Chief Eze Emeka Oluse for best performance.
The Nigerian Teachers Manning educational sector at the grassroots has rekindled the desired commitment to towards dealing with the causative preferences and negative belief in western education.
They said the renewed efforts is imperative because as custodians of the basic education at the grassroots level, posterity would not forgive them if they allow the spirit attached to the foundation dies down.
The National President, National Association of Local Government Education Secretaries of Nigeria, NSESN, Dr. Has Sule made this commitment at its 27th Annual Conference held in Jos.
With the theme, Local Government autonomy: Implementation For Basic Education Delivery In Nigeria, Dr. Sule said the conference, is a platform where Educational Secretaries In the 774 local governments comes together to rub minds, share ideas and proffer solution on how best to manage education at the grass root level.
Adding that, it also provides platform for standardizing the operations and activities of basic education in our respective local government areas in Nigeria.
Delivering his lecture on the theme of the topic, “Local Government autonomy: Implementation For Basic Education Delivery In Nigeria”, Prof. G. O Aplah of the faculty of education, University of Jos, through his weight behind the granting of autonomy to local government, saying it will hold to address some lapses that had lingered in the system.
Adding that the autonomy of local government address issue of infrastructure decay as well as bring political will leading to a dividend of democracy at the grass root level.
Declaring the session open, the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, represented by the commissioner secondary education in Plateau state, Joseph Mairiga challenges the participants to make the best use of the opportunity and come out with strong framework that would aid the government in addressing the challenges of education at the function level.
He expressed regret that the recent financial burden of a primary education and the UBE Scheme that was left in the hands of the three tiers of government debt d not yield the desired objective due to the lean resources invested and n education at the local government level.
He said now that the agitations and argument for local government autonomy are at the front burner of national discuss, the conference is timely and an opportunity for the stakeholders to proffer solution on the position on whose hands the faith of education would be placed on.
He, however, said government on its part is determined to redeem the educational system through its various agenda and policies so that the nation regains its lost glory in academic excellence.
Responding, Prof Mathew Sule said he lean his support on Local Government autonomy which is an appropriate issue the position of the government.
He advocated that the Universal Basic Education should be left in the hand of States rather than pushing it to local government.
He applauded the National Teacher conference for finding him worthy as an ambassador with the achievements recorded under the year review.
Prof Sule advocates for 10% matching order as part of counterpart funds instate of 50% from the state but appeal to politicians who have the interest of education towards addressing lopsided policy.
