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Government spent N10.3b in two years on capacity building, says Buhari

By Kanayo Umeh, Abuja
06 October 2017   |   4:18 am
The Federal Government has disclosed that it spent N10.3 billion in the last two years to boost capacity building for primary and secondary schools teachers across the country.

President Mohammadu Buhari/ AFP PHOTO / Sunday AGHAEZE

• NUT condemns recruitment of non-professionals

The Federal Government has disclosed that it spent N10.3 billion in the last two years to boost capacity building for primary and secondary schools teachers across the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed this yesterday at the 2017 World Teachers Day in Abuja.Represented by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, he said the funds were released under the Teacher Development Programme (TDP) of the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC).

“In 2015, more than N5.9billion of the 2014 TDP fund was utilised to build the capacity of 229, 286 basic education teachers in 36 states and FCT. “The areas where the capacities of teachers were built included numeracy, literacy, phonics, pedagogy and professional conduct,” he said.

He explained that on-the-job capacity of 132,682 teachers was enhanced in 2016 by investing over N4.4 billion of 2015 TPD fund in teachers training.The president commended the efforts of teachers in the country’s development, adding that the administration has put in place several measures in place to motivate teachers, including a brand new car for best teacher of the year.

Also, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Michael Olukoya, lauded the Federal Government for its continued support for teachers.He, however, expressed concern about the issue of unpaid salaries for teachers in 17 states, despite the bailout funds and Paris Club loan refunds to states.

“As at the end of September, primary and secondary school teachers were owed 2 to 11 months salaries in 17 states in the country.“Worse still, some state governments have since adopted the inhuman act of paying monthly salaries in fractions, without any guarantee that the remaining part of the salaries would be paid to the teachers,” he said.

The NUT boss also criticised the recruitment of non-professionals under the Federal Government N-Power Teaching Programme.A new Nissan Almera car was presented under President Merit Award to the winner, Clement Okodo from Anambra State, while a prize was also given to Ojodu Grammar School, Ikeja, Lagos State as the best school of the year.

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