Teachers across Ogun State have applauded the Minority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Lukman Adeleye, for sponsoring the landmark bill that has now been passed into law elevating the office of the Principal General (PG) to the status of Permanent Secretary in the State’s education system.
The bill, which sought the Gazetting of the Principal General’s Office, was recently passed by the House of Assembly and assented to by Governor Dapo Abiodun, CON.
With this development, whenever a Principal General retires, a replacement must be appointed without delay, securing the continuity of leadership and prestige for secondary school teachers.
In a letter, the State Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Mr. Felix Oluwaseun Agbesanwa, expressed profound gratitude to Hon. Adeleye for his vision and courage in initiating the legislative process.
According to him, the bill represents a “restoration of the dignity of teachers” and a major win for the profession in Ogun State.
“We thank Hon. Lukman Adeleye for standing boldly for truth, equity, and justice by sponsoring this bill. His effort has brought lasting honour to teachers in the state, ensuring that our Principal Generals now enjoy the recognition they truly deserve,” Agbesanwa said.
The Chairman also commended the House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olumide Elemide, other lawmakers and the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, for their roles in ensuring the bill’s success, while extending appreciation to the Governor for assenting to it.
The law is being widely described as a “gift to teachers” ahead of this year’s World Teachers’ Day celebration. It comes on the heels of other interventions by Governor Abiodun, including the provision of new vehicles for PGs in 2023.
Retired PGs, under the leadership of Alhaji Olubajo, as well as the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), were also praised for their support towards the realization of the legislation.
Teachers across the state have welcomed the development with joy, noting that it will not only boost morale but also strengthen the secondary education system.
