Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu,has said that the excise of Junior Secondary Schools teachers from the Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB)to Abia State Universal Basic Education Board(ASUBEB) was to ensure proper administration of the school system and prompt payment of school teachers salaries and allowances.
Dr. Ikpeazu who stated this while inaugurating the 11 Member Committee on Disarticulation of Junior Secondary Schools from SEMB to ASUBEB ,as well as harmonization of payment of teachers salaries and allowances by the Local Government Councils in the state at Government House, Umuahia, stressed the need to ensure proper alignment of the staff strength and reassured of government’s resolve in ensuring payment of their leave allowances and other emoluments. The Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu,(1st right),among others ,during the inauguration of committee on handover of Junior secondary schools teachers to ASUBEB.
He stated that by this action, ASUBEB would assume its lawful responsibility of payment of salaries, emoluments and allowances of teachers from the Primary School level to the Junior Secondary as done in other states.
The Governor,represented by his deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu,pointed out that it was an aberration that has been on for some time now for SEMB to be burdened with the problem of payment of salaries and emoluments of teachers in the Junior secondary school levels and stated that the committee has the mandate to segment these schools and put them back under the umbrella of ASUBEB and the local government councils.
He reminded members of the committee to do a thorough job as they have been chosen based on their requisite qualifications to enable government achieve its vision to reposition the education sector in the state.
Responding, the chairman of the committee and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Fred Chuks Udensi thanked the government for finding them worthy and promised that they would work assiduously to meet the expectations of the state government in line with their terms of reference.
