Celebrating World Teachers Day, Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial district, Chukwuka Utazi, has on Thursday maintained that teachers in Nigeria should be paid before lawmakers and other public servants.
Speaking through order 43 of Senate rules, the lawmaker decried the pathetic condition of Nigerian teachers, saying that nobody wants to take to teaching profession anymore.
He lashed at how Nigeria elites chase teachers around the globe by spending so much money in sending their wards abroad, leaving teachers in Nigeria with difficulties.
“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I am saying this with all sense of responsibility that Nigerians should be encouraged in teaching profession,” he said.
“In today’s society, people believe that teaching profession is not a lucrative one and I know that we are getting it wrong at that. That is why most of us here spend so much money in sending our children from this part of the globe to another in search of teachers,” he added.
He wondered at how basic salaries of teachers were not often paid, thereby, discouraging people from teaching profession. He warned that if nothing was done, there would be dearth of teachers in Nigeria in the nearest future.
On his part, Senate President, Bukola Saraki expressed hope that there will be a round table discussion to discuss issues relating to teaching profession in Nigeria.