The dominant opinion in the teaching profession, especially as it obtained in Osun in times past, was that it was quite an unrewarding profession. This was not far from the reality of lean benefits and conditions of service that applied to the professionals in the field. But in this interview with Osin Newsroom, Comrade Adekomi Kabir Adekunle, the state’s chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, speaks glowingly of how that narrative has become a thing of the past in the state, thanks to the emergence of a governor who is not only worker-friendly, but teacher-friendly. According to him, teachers are now having it good under Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, for a number of reasons, some of which he highlighted in the interview. Excerpts:
Osunnewsroom:
Few days ago, Osun made another history when the governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, made the official presentation of approved circular for domestication of 65 years retirement for teachers and 40 years length of service for both public primary and secondary school teachers in Osun state. How does it feel being at the helm of affairs as the state chairman of NUT at such a time as this?
NUT Chairman:
I must say that it gladdens my heart beyond saying. Though a baby of the Federal Government of Nigeria, I must for record purpose state that the request for the domestication of this extension of service for the Osun state teachers received the blessing of our dear teacher-friendly governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, the very first day of its presentation during the extended labour meeting we held with him on the 18th of April 2022. It is a thing of joy for all teachers and for me personally at the moment for the grace I am presently enjoying as the number one teacher in Osun state. For the rest of my career as a teacher and the state NUT Chairman, I will always live to cherish this moment, for being part of this history-making occasion.
Osunnewsroom:
Congratulations. It is indeed a thing of joy
NUT Chairman:
Yes it is and so shall it continue to be especially in Osun state which has again recorded another landmark of being the first state in the entire south west to start the implementation of this laudable gesture of 65 years retirement age for teachers and 40 years length of service.
Osunnewsroom:
By implication, the public service rule that hitherto required a teacher to retire from public service at 60 years of age and 35 years in service has gone into the dustbin of history.
NUT Chairman:
Yes, the new gesture was a by-product of long years of clamour and agitation by teachers throughout the Nigerian federation. Before it came to reality, the national leadership of NUT worked closely with the National Assembly and the Federal Government to ensure its proper legislation and its eventual back up with President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent on the 8th of April, 2022, having been passed by the National Assembly.
Osunnewsroom:
Back home in Osun state, how has been the disposition of teachers generally to the Oyetola-led administration?
NUT Chairman:
Smooth and cordial. I must say that we are not only happy but grateful and completely overwhelmed with the positive disposition of Oyetola-led administration to us as teachers in the employment of the state government. The present and upcoming generation of teachers will never in a hurry forget the generosity of Oyetola’s administration to us. The state government has done quite a lot for us. At a point in time, I even lost count of the number of such wonderful gestures.
Osunnewsroom:
Perhaps for record purposes and for the sake of clarity, can you please highlight some of the goodies enjoyed and still being enjoyed by teachers, courtesy of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola?
NUT Chairman:
Take for instance, the regular payment of our salaries and allowances as and when due. This is heartwarming and endearing to our souls. The era of getting our salaries delayed is gone and gone for good. There was a period when payment of half salaries was a serious challenge to the teaching profession and the entire workers in Osun state . Kudos to Governor Oyetola for correcting this anomaly. Apart from training and retraining for teacher, this administration under the able leadership of Mr Adegboyega Oyetola went extra mile in spite of the poor financial position of the state to recruit additional 1000 teachers to compliment the existing teachers in the profession. The popular refrain by people in saying that teacher’s reward is in heaven is now a nullity as reverse is the case in Osun state of today. Our own reward system as professionals in the field of imparting knowledge is right here on earth. Let me again quickly remind us that no administration has ever doled out two brand new motor cars to teachers as a way of rewarding excellence and productivity like the way Oyetola did for two of our teachers. The duo of Mr Adeyemi Isiaka and Mrs Abiala Grace are today cruising around with beautifully exotic cars as their own, having won them at the 2022 Osun worker’s merit awards organized by the Oyetola administration.
Osunnewsroom:
One of you (a teacher) got elevated to the position of a substantive permanent secretary in the state Ministry of Education
NUT Chairman:
In fact, it was an icing on the cake for all teachers when for the first time in the history of our dear state, a school teacher, Mr Adelani Aderinola, got elevated meritoriously to the position of a substantive Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Education. It has never happened before. Oyetola made it a reality. It was never like this before. We only used to hear such elevation in other services of the state as opposed to the teaching service. Look at us today. To God be the glory. This is a revalidation of my earlier submission that our rewards as teachers are at our beck and call here on earth and not in heaven any longer.
Osunnewsroom:
And to whom much is given?
NUT Chairman:
Of course, much is surely expected and that is why come July 16, 2022, during the gubernatorial election, all teachers will reciprocate Oyetola’s gestures to us by giving him an overwhelming support through our votes. This is our collective resolve. You will live to witness it by God’s grace. No compromise. No retreat. No surrender until we get Oyetola returned to power for another four years of his teacher-friendly governance in Osun. We started making our position with our sense of gratitude known to him when we openly endorsed his candidature for a second term during the World Teachers’ Day celebration at the Osogbo township stadium amidst pomp and ceremonies of all kinds by Osun teacher. Oyetola is a good governor. We love him
