Tope Musowo
Lagos
The Lagos state government has refuted the claim in some print and online media that 10 teachers in the school system in the state die monthly.
A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, stated that the trend of death was noticed in the records of past administration, which compelled the current government to introduce a quarterly sensitisation seminar for teachers in the state employ.
The commissioner clarified that the Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration has not and did not record death of teachers in drone as being reported in some newspapers and online platform.
“As part of the state government general wellness programme, public servants also enjoy comprehensive free health programme and also four of their dependants under 18 years’’, he said, adding that government also operated a well-equipped staff clinic with modern facilities and well-stuffed pharmacy.
Similarly, Ayorinde said the government organizes regular wellness and screening programmes quarterly as part of efforts to ensure good health of its workforce.
The Commissioner enjoined all public servants in the state to take advantage of the various health programmes of the government to take care of their health needs.
Report had stated that an average of 10 teachers die each month in the post-primary teaching service of the state.
The Permanent Secretary of TEPO, Sewanu Ayodele-Amosu, made the disclosure at a Sensitisation Seminar and Capacity Building on Healthy Living for Post-Primary Teaching Staff of the state.
She said that apart from sudden collapse resulting in either temporary or permanent confinement in bed, the disturbing rate of deaths among teachers in the state called for concern.
“This is another contributory factor for this worrisome adverse health condition of the teachers”, Ayodele-Amosu had said.
