Teachers across Enugu State have declared their support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah in 2027. The endorsement was announced at Okpara Square, Enugu, during a rally organised by the Teachers' Grassroots Movement for Peter Mbah and Bola Tinubu. The rally was attended by teachers from public, private, and mission primary and secondary schools across the state.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Enugu State chapter, Comrade Theophilus Odoh, praised Governor Mbah for prioritising teachers' welfare and introducing reforms aimed at improving the education sector. He noted that the governor had demonstrated his commitment to teachers even before assuming office, particularly through his support for harmonising their retirement age and years of service.
According to Odoh, the recruitment of more than 4,000 teachers had helped address staffing shortages in public schools, while the ongoing recruitment exercise was expected to provide additional support for the education workforce. He also commended the establishment of Smart Green Schools, describing the initiative as a positive development that was already benefiting teachers and pupils.
The state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mba, said the endorsement demonstrated teachers' recognition of the government's commitment to improving education. He disclosed that the state had developed 269 Smart Green Schools, supplied 6,500 smart boards for the initiative, and distributed 269,000 free school uniforms to pupils.
Mba said the government was also widening access to education through Smart Senior Secondary Schools, technical and vocational education and training colleges, and the establishment of two new universities. He added that the administration had approved the recruitment of more teachers to improve teaching and learning across the state.
Governor Peter Mbah described the endorsement as significant, saying teachers were central to the achievement of the state's development objectives. He said the participation of more than 30,000 teachers in the movement's endorsement underscored the importance of their support for his re-election and Tinubu's return to office.
Mbah explained that the administration's education reforms were driven by necessity rather than an ambition to undertake projects merely for their size or visibility. He listed some of the government's investments, including the construction of 7,000 classrooms, the provision of 464,000 items of furniture, 25,000 desktop computers, and more than 5,000 tablets.
Key points
- The Enugu State government has committed 33% of its total budget to education.
- The state has developed 269 Smart Green Schools and supplied 6,500 smart boards for the initiative.
- More than 30,000 teachers have endorsed Governor Mbah and President Tinubu for re-election in 2027.
