Ogun Speaker advocates principal-general bill to enhance teacher morale, education standards
By Omobolaji Adekunle
The Ogun State House of Assembly has announced plans to introduce a Principal-General Establishment bill designed to elevate the morale of teachers in public secondary schools and improve the administration of the state’s educational zones.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, disclosed this while declaring open the stakeholders’ forum on the bill titled: H.B. No. 016/ OG/ 2024- The Principal-General Establishment law, 2024- a Bill for a law to create the Office of Principal-General In the State and Related Matters,” held at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Elemide explained that the bill sought to appoint four Principals- General, who would contribute to the advancement of the sector, noting that the stakeholders’ forum would assist in harnessing the inputs of relevant stakeholders towards having a robust bill.
Earlier in his remarks, the Sponsor of the bill and Assembly Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye, said that the bill was long overdue and it was a right step in the right direction to further improve on the educational standard of the State.
According to him, the proposed duties of the officials include: “supervising educational activities and ensuring compliance with State educational policies, overseeing the performance of schools within the zones, implementing educational programmes and initiatives and coordinating other educational authorities and stakeholders to enhance educational standards.”
Stakeholders who made contributions at the forum included the representative of the body of Permanent Secretaries, Mr. Timothy Olatunji, Ministry of Finance, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Muftau Towolawi, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) had Commissioner 1, Mr. Adeola Akintonde, the representatives of the Association of Retired Heads of Service/ Permanent Secretaries, Chief Ayodele Koleade, Principals-General, Dr. ( Mrs.) Ayodele Womiloju, as well as the members of the Executive of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools ( ASUSS), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) President of ANCOPPS and the Director, Legal Drafting in the State Ministry of Justice, Barr. James Mafe amongst others.
They emphasised the need to encourage teachers to reach the pinnacle of their career through the establishment of the Office of Principal-General with a caution to all stakeholders to ensure that the proposed legislation be in line with constitutional provisions.
