By Ayodele Oni
Some public workers in Ondo State have advised Ondo State Government to jettison the planned move to elongate years of service of teachers to 65 years.
The workers, who wrote a letter to the State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the State Head of Service, Mr Bayo Phillip called on them to immediately suspend the policy, but rather consider giving jobs to some of teeming unemployed graduates.
The Concerned workers described the policy as unpopular and anti- youths who are unemployed in the state.
The concerned workers whose letter was signed by two of their members, Aiyenigba Olatunji and Johnson Ojo, said the policy would lead to redundancy in the teaching profession.
“We are deeply concerned that the recently announced policy of elongating years of service for teachers may undermine the progress that has been made and jeopardize the future of education in the State. No society jokes with productive and active populace.
“The National Council of Establishments has rejected the proposal for elongation of service for Public Servants, citing the potential negative impacts. In place of this request, the Council encouraged the government to focus on creating more job opportunities.
“We share the Council’s concerns, and believe that this policy would be detrimental to the interests of both teachers and the State.
“Anybody above 60yr-old or to have spent 35yrs in service can no longer stand for hours to teach. Therefore, the policy is unpopular but some former appointees misled and took the advantage of ill-health of late Governor Former, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu to approve the policy.
“We (concerned workers), therefore, appeal to Your Excellency to suspend the policy through the new Head of Service and review it properly in the overall interest of the state. Sir, you can order independent investigation, you will surely know is a very unpopular policy Sir.”
