Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said that about 10,000 to 15,000 primary and secondary schools teachers would be employed by the state government to ensure adequate and efficient learning and teaching in schools.
Sanwo-Olu said this had become important to ensure that Lagos pupils had the best of education and provide the state with the right human resources in the future.
The governor revealed this, while giving account of his 100 days in office. Sanwo-Olu detailed projects and programmes executed since he was sworn-in as governor, maintaining that he was committed and unshaken about the promises he made during the electioneering process.
He said among other things, 50 locations in Lagos now enjoyed free-wifi while the partnership that gave birth to LAKE Rice would continue.
Sanwo-Olu added that over 20 million units of waste bags had been produced for distribution so that residents could bag and sort their waste appropriately.
He promised that 40 million units of waste bags would be produced in the coming weeks, adding that his administration was not about excuses but finding solutions to problems and challenges confronting residents and the state.
The governor assured that the Oshodi-Abule-Egba BRT lane would be completed before the end of the year while the school feeding programme meant for primary school pupils would kick off soon.
On erratic power supply, Sanwo-Olu said about 20,000 pre-paid meters would be procured while discussions were on with DISCOS and a power firm on how to increase power supply through embedded power.
Sanwo-Olu said that his government would be leveraging on private sector partnership and funding to execute programme and projects, stating that partnership with the private sector was critical as it controlled about 80 per cent of Lagos Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The governor further said to increase fund to execute programmes and projects, the state hoped to bring in about 2 million non-tax paying residents into the tax net, saying that to increase the state’ Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), there would be no increase in tax rate paid by residents and businesses.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has said that all public and private schools in the state must resume for the first term of the 2019/2020 academic session on Monday, September 9.
It said that by so doing, they would be adhering to the Uniform School Calendar approved by the state government.
This is contained in a statement released by Mr. Kayode Sutton of the Public Affairs department in the state’s Ministry of Education and made available to newsmen in Lagos.
According to the statement, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, said that the adoption of a uniform academic calendar will enable proper planning and organisation by the Ministry.
She said that it would also afford the pupils and the students the opportunities to attend schools for the number of days required by them in each term.
Adefisayo also commended the concerted efforts of the teachers (teaching and non-teaching) toward preparing their pupils for the commencement of a new academic session.
She said that the state government would not relent in its commitment toward capacity building/training of the teaching staff, their welfare and reward for excellence.
The commissioner also advised the pupils and students to report to their schools on the date the government had stipulated in the uniform academic calendar.
She also advised all students in the state to devote more time to their studies on resumption of classes.
She advised them to shun all vices, including internet fraud, thuggery, hooliganism, rape, examination malpractice, alcoholism, drug abuse and cultism.
The commissioner urged parents and guardians of pupils and wards to remember that the administration of Governor. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, would focus on improving education in the state.
The commissioner added that the government would continue to do everything possible to improve on teaching and learning in all public schools.
The commissioner said that the state government would not be happy with any private schools that would violate the approved uniform resumption date for schools in the state.
She warned that any private schools found to have breached the rules would be sanctioned accordingly.