By Itam Offor
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The Cross River State House of Assembly has summoned the Commissioner for Education, the Accountant General, the Auditor General, and heads of agencies under the education cluster to appear before it and explain the non-implementation of teachers’ promotions across the State.
The decision followed lawmakers’ deliberations on a Motion sponsored by the Member representing Bakassi State Constituency, Hon. Eyo Bassey Edet, who described the situation as unacceptable and detrimental to the morale of teachers across the state.
“Teachers play a very important role in society. The teaching profession is vital. Across the State, many teachers have not been promoted for years while those promoted have not enjoyed their new salaries. There is selective implementation of promotions. The continued delay in implementing promotions has dampened the morale of many teachers and this is not good for our educational system. Many of my affected constituents are complaining, they are suffering. This is against the People’s First agenda of His Excellency, our Governor,” Edet maintained.
The Lawmaker stressed that teachers remain the cornerstone of societal progress and that education is the foundation of every sustainable development effort. He further observed that the continued delay in implementing approved promotions has adversely affected classroom performance and the overall quality of education, urging his colleagues to support the motion with a view to resolving the matter.
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Speaking during the plenary session, several members emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in the management of education-related matters. They maintained that prompt implementation of teachers’ promotions would not only boost motivation among educators but also reaffirm the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of its workforce and advancing the state’s educational standards.
The Lawmakers noted that the situation had lingered from past administrations and commended the efforts of the present Government to rectify the abnormalities in the State workforce. They attributed the situation to fraudulent activities of some corrupt government officials in the system and called for immediate action to bring the perpetrators to book.
At the end of deliberations, the Assembly resolved to liaise with the concerned agencies to find a lasting solution to the problem in order to ameliorate the sufferings of those affected.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, reaffirmed the legislature’s resolve to ensure that issues affecting teachers and the education sector receive the urgent attention they deserve. He pledged continued oversight to guarantee compliance with promotion and implementation policies in the State civil service.
