The Upper Chamber of the National Assembly on Tuesday challenged other governors of the federation to learn from the educational policies being put in place in Osun State if, indeed, they are to set their states on the path of educational glory.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Education, Chief Uche Chukwumerijie, while leading the Senate Committee on Education on an oversight visit to the state, said others must drop their party affiliations and sentiments to learn from Osun State because what is happening in there was capable of rescuing the country’s rotten education sector.
This was even as the Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola held that Nigeria will not make appreciable progress if her focus is only on the executive arm of government.
Chukwumerijie, who led other members, including the wife of the former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Prof. Olusola Adeyeye; Senator Atiku Bagudu among others, said the visit is a mark of respect and solidarity in showing appreciation for the wonders and feat that the young administration of Aregbesola has achieved in Osun.
In his words: “The states and the country owe Governor Aregbesola a lot of gratitude for promptly laying a formidable foundation for education in the state.
“I will like to use this opportunity to advice other states, irrespective of your political affiliation: You must drop your ego and learn from the people-oriented projects and programmes of Governor Aregbesola.”
The senator described the collapse of education in the country as a national challenge and appealed to all to muster the courage to address the decay in the education sector.
According to the lawmaker: “The governor of Osun is God-sent to his people.
“Aregbesola, as a fresh governor, has shown that he is a serious-minded person.
“For the first time, the education policy of Ogbeni Aregbesola remains the best in the country, even ahead that of Lagos State.”
Responding, Aregbesola held that for the country to progress, the interest of the people must be considered before any decision is taken, stating that parliamentary system of government is the essence of democracy.
He said: “The best form of political activity is in the parliament.
“Our nation will not make appreciable progress if it focuses only on the executive.
“At least the parliament is where ideas are generated, they have total representation and support of the people.
“Parliamentary system is the essence of democracy.
“The assembly of the people must not be an expression but it must put into practice.
“For a country to have meaningful development progress, it must not be a one-sided means of power.”
Speaking on education, Aregbesola said when he got into power, his intention was to close down schools for about a year because of what he met.
He said: “What was on ground was dilapidated school buildings not fit for human habitation.
“The conditions of teachers were nothing to write home about plus the condition of other infrastructure.”
He urged the committee not to be afraid to tell President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan that there is a problem in the education sector, adding that the decadence in the sector must be arrested to rescue students from the problem of not having sound education.
Aregbesola held that the basis of growth for any country is sound education and that Osun State is committed to provision of genuine and sound education for its citizenry hence the commitment of huge resources to make sure that its pupils will rank among the best in Nigeria.
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