President Muhammadu Buhari has said that a comprehensive policy for improved remuneration for teachers and all public servants is being developed.
Buhari, represented by Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said this at the 2018 Nigeria’s Annual Education Conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
The president said that the remuneration policy would include genuine pension scheme.
The conference has the theme, “Education for Self-Reliance: A System’s Approach to Education for the achievement of Education 2030 Agenda.”
He said that the choice and timing of the theme was apt for the fact that Nigeria had dedicated itself to the implementation of the education 2030 agenda.
“With the depression in the labour market, education should now be tailored towards the acquisition of skills and abilities that can make the individual a productive and self-reliant member of the society.”
He said that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, had promoted Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Buhari added that government had also developed science and technology education policy for the realisation of TVET objectives and dreams.
The president further stated that government had commenced the development of a policy on product innovation, exhibition and commercialisation.
He noted that the development would create a window for advancing the outcomes of the national annual students’ skills competition towards practical utilisation and economic benefits.
Buhari said that to reduce unemployment, poverty, hunger and violence, Nigerians must pay less attention to education for white collar jobs and embrace education for self-reliance, job and wealth creation.
He said that the present administration had disbursed N42.2 billion Universal Basic Education (UBE) matching grant to 26 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and N851.5 million special education grants to 23 states.
The president, while reiterating the importance of teacher education, said government had allocated funds for the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme to ensure that teachers were exposed to current education policies.
He added that the Safe Schools Initiative, launched by the last administration, had also received a boost from the present administration in addressing security challenges in the North East and in other flashpoints nationwide.
