Th e protest embarked upon by some members of the National Union Teachers, Oyo State, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital recently is welcome development.
Th e NUT was enjoying its fundamental human rights to protest against a policy that would be injurious to her health.
Th e state government and security forces deserve accolade for allowing the peaceful protest to hold.
Although, it appears the protest was in tandem with the state government position on local government administration.
However, if the NUT was to support the Local Government autonomy; the protest would have been stopped for constituting a breach of public peace.
Disruption of an NLC-led peaceful protest over non-payment of salary few years ago and harassment of the leaders, I think including the leaders of July 29, protest is still fresh in memory.
Th e roles of local governments in the development of the grassroots cannot be overemphasized.
Therefore, it is preposterous for the NUT to throw out the baby and the bathwater because of lack of resources in the local government.
As Akano concluded, the primary education should be placed under state government for effective funding.
Th is is better than outright rejection of LG autonomy and t hat should have been more befittingclamour of the NUT, now that the call for restructuring of the Nigeria polity is gathering momentum.
AdewuyiAdegbite, [email protected]
