Suspend school feeding programme, use same resources to pay teachers, Abia youths tell Ikpeazu

Suspend school feeding programme, use same resources to pay teachers, Abia youths tell Ikpeazu

. Decry collapse of education sector, infrastructural decay

By Steve Oko

Abia youths under the auspices of Progressive Abia Youths, PAY, have asked Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu to suspend the school feeding programme and use the funds to clear the backlog of salary arrears owed teachers in the state.

The youths who spoke at a press conference in Umuahia argued that it made no sense spending millions of Naira monthly to feed students while their teachers are owed.

Wawa News Global reports that the youths decried the plights of workers especially teachers in the state due to many months of unpaid wages.

“We request that the school feeding program, gulping hundreds of millions of our revenue, be suspended and the resources be channeled to the payment of teachers’ salaries.

“It doesn’t make sense to feed school children when their teachers are owed. School is not
an eatery; it’s a place for learning and the priority is on education, not eating or feeding
as you call it.”

President of the non-partisan youth body, Kingsley Ekejiuba, said that Abia youths had decided to come together for the first time, and champion the cause of good governance.

The youths in a 13-point communiqué, expressed concern over the backlog of salary arrears owed staff of Abia State University, Abia Polytechnic and Abia College of Education Technical Arochukwu, respectively, and urged the Governor to declare a state of emergency on the education sector to save it from total collapse.

“Sadly, accumulation of salaries in the public education sector is now a norm in Abia State
with over 60 months (5+ years) of cumulative salary arrears owed to lecturers and
other staff, including primary and secondary school teachers.

“Primary and secondary schools are perpetually moribund, and while a majority of them are understaffed, others are
completely dilapidated.

” As a result, we urge the incumbent to declare a state of emergency in all the state-owned schools in a bid to tackle this issue and restore pride in our public education sector before the end of this administration.

The youths who gathered from across 17 Councils in the state, decried the deplorable condition of the state which blamed on bad leadership.

They expressed disappointment that not much progress had been recorded in the state 31 years after it was created, demanded accountability and inclusion by Government.

Lamenting the high rate of unemployment in the state, the youths tasked Government to create the enabling environment to support business growth and private sector development

The youths who vowed to help enthrone good leadership in 2023, declared that the era of using them to rig election was over.

They decried infrastructural decay in the state and tasked Gov. Ikpeazu on the delivery of all road projects awarded by his administration.

” A 31-year old should be able to clothe himself but at 31, Abia lacks the necessary apparel that bequeaths a 31-year old.

“To this end, we call on the incumbent Governor to ensure that all awarded road contracts are executed before May 29, 2023.”

“Environmental issues have continued to increase in the last 31 years.
From flooding in Aba to oil pollution in Ukwa and erosion in Isuikwuato and other
areas of the state, our people have been unintentional victims of environmental
hazards.

The tasked on candidates for various elections in 2023 to focus on how they would solve the many challenges of the state.

“We call on the political candidates contesting the governorship position in Abia State to focus on solving the many issues confronting the state.

“The days of bad governance and
stealing public funds in Abia State are over. We have risen to take our destiny into our
own hands to protect our democracy and ensure result-based leadership for our
generation and the next.”

 

Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.

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