As teachers in Imo State celebrate the 2023 World Teachers Day Anniversary, the People’s Democratic Governorship Governorship candidate in the November 11 election in Imo State, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, has urged them to remain steadfast in the face of intimidation, harassment and molestation.
In a statement issued Thursday in Owerri by the Director Media and Publicity Imo PDP (Sam-Jons) Governorship Campaign Organization, Ikenna Onuoha, he assured them of his willingness to make their welfare package a major priority of his administration when Imo people elect the Governor in the November 11 election.
Anyanwu thanked God for saving Imo workers from what he described as an administrative ambush under the embattled Governor Hope Uzodinma, whom he said has tagged them “Ghost” workers for no justifiable reason.
The PDP Governorship flag bearer described Imo workers as dedicated, committed and devoted to working assiduously for the development of Imo state
He said: “Most regrettably, the present administration led by Hope Uzodinma has a natural hatred against Imo workers, especially Teachers”.
Anyanwu recalled that recently, Uzodinma allegedly selected over 40% of Imo workers and pronounced them “Ghost” workers simply because his government is unable and incapable of paying them accumulated salary.
According to him, Uzodinma has also demonstrated obvious hatred against Imo Teachers by ignoring all appeals by stakeholders to repair dilapidated school structures across the state or construct new ones to guarantee a conducive learning environment. Painfully, up to date, Uzodinma has utterly and flagrantly ignored that call.
He said: “It is annoying that while Teachers in other states are given much attention and provided with good welfare packages by Governors in those states, Imo Teachers are abandoned and left to live by borrowing after sacrificing their best to aid state and nation-building*.
He said while teachers are set to celebrate this year’s World Teachers Day, with the Theme -“The Teachers We Need For The Education We Want: Global Imperative To Reverse The Teacher’s Shortage”, Uzodinma will still ignore them to gather under the sun or in the rain when their counterparts in other states are pampered and provided with Air-conditioned auditorium for the event.
He said that the World International Teachers’ Day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers
According to him, the UNESCO recommendation helps to set the benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions.
The PDP candidate accused Governor Uzodinma of either implementing the recommendation of UNESCO, providing relevant equipment, or promoting Teachers to their desired grade level to guarantee a quality teaching and learning environment.
He pointed out that Uzodinma’s neglect underscores the abysmal and low performance of Imo state students in the recent ratings, which listed the state as among the first 5 states that are backward.
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