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*Governor Ikpeazu is investing in education to secure Abia’s future-Okiyi*

Abia State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, has stated that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is massively investing in the education sector to secure the future of Abia children and enable them compete at the global stage.

The Commissioner who disclosed this when he received members of Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) led by their Chairman, Mr Kelechi Nwosu, in his office, said that the state government acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of Abia teachers in moulding future leaders of the state and informed that the administration will continue to invest in the welfare of teachers and students of the state.

The information boss who assured teachers that the state government is making concerted efforts to clear arrears of salaries owed to teachers and bring them at par with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), appealed to teachers to continue to exercise patience with the government as various structures are being put in place to evolve a sustainable solution to issues around regular salary payments.

According to him, “today we are up to date with payment of MDAs that make up more than 70% of our workforce and as the various measures already put in place by the Governor, to shore up internally generated revenue and plug leakages within the Revenue collection chain, start yielding expected good results we should be able to solve the regular payment challenge in the state, including teachers salary and pension payments. All that is required is a little more patience, support for the efforts and prayers for the Governor who is determined to re-write our story with workers payments, infrastructure development, healthcare and educational development.”

The Commissioner who confirmed that secondary school teachers received 2 months payments in the past one month and are set to receive another one month, also informed newsmen that the state government is establishing a teachers training center at Umuahia to ensure that the retraining program anchored by Australian education consultants continue without disrupting academic work in the state.

Chief Okiyi expressed happiness with the performance of Abia school Children in National and International examinations and added that over 300 (three hundred) schools are currently being renovated across the state, courtesy of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who made education one of the pillars of his administration.

He thanked ASUBEB for ensuring that the state government realizes its vision for the education sector, especially with the ongoing construction of four model schools and promised to work with them to publicise the activities of the board.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of ASUBEB, Mr Kenechukwu Nwosu? said they came to congratulate Chief John Okiyi Kalu on his appointment as the Commissioner for Information and to fraternize and exchange views with the Ministry on the activities/projects of ASUBEB.

Mr Nwosu disclosed that the Governor has attracted N5.2billion naira to ASUBEB through the payment of the state’s UBE counterpart fund and stated that 4 Model Schools are being constructed in the three senatorial zones of the state with each coming with good school furniture, ICT centre, sick bay, 10KVA solar energy, water, playing field, students and teachers accommodation and modern classroom blocks, among others, to create a conducive learning environment for Abia children.

According to Mr Nwosu, “education is free in Abia State from primary to junior secondary and school enrollment in the state has improved with the free school meal program anchored by the wife of the Governor”.

He also noted that a vocational school has been established at Mgbarakuma Ubakala, Umuahia South LGA to help Abia Children acquire skills while school census is on going to document Abia students and expressed their readiness to partner with the Ministry of Information to educate the public on the programs of the board.

The ASUBEB boss stated that the Governor is doing well in the Education sector and has created good platforms for all Abia Children to go back to school and leave the streets.