Tambuwal targets N1bn education levy annually

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State says over N1 billion will be collected annually as education levy to be deducted from the salaries of civil and public servants in the state
The governor disclosed this on Monday when he inaugurated a 27-man Education Revitalization and Strengthening Committee being chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III.
The governor performed the inauguration during the 2017 Annual General Meeting of the Sokoto Education Development Trust Fund (SEDTF).
Tambuwal disclosed that civil servants on Grade Levels 1 to 6 would pay one per cent of their basic salaries as education levy.
Similarly, those on Grade Levels 7 to 12 would pay one and a half per cent, while those on Grade levels 13 to 16, would pay two per cent.
Tambuwal said, ”The high powered committee was set up as part of measures being implemented under the declaration of the state of emergency in the education sector.
“The committee was also set up as part of the proactive strategies by the state government to revive education from its state of coma.
“This action was premised on some disturbing statistics from development partners that the state still lags behind in education, especially girl child education.
”The committee is therefore charged with the responsibility of increasing enrollment, retention and completion of school by pupils,” he said.
Tambuwal further said that the terms of reference of the committee include: the rehabilitation, expansion and construction of schools, with the collaboration of the schools’ based management committees in the state.
In the same vein, the governor said that the committee would work out modalities for grassroots mobilisation of parents to enroll their children in both western and Islamic schools.
“It will also work to ensure improved quality of teaching and learning, as well as equity, irrespective of gender.
“The sultan is globally recognised as a committed leader and he has zero-tolerance for non compliance just like he led the successful war on the menace of polio,” Tambuwal, averred.
In his acceptance, the sultan commended Tambuwal for reposing tremendous confidence in the members of the committee and promised to work diligently in the discharge of the onerous responsibility.
“We will work assiduously in the discharge of this noble assignment, without fear or favour, and in the absolute fear of God.
“The committee will recommend the sacking of all unqualified teachers, as there are many of them, with some of them always absent from their duty posts.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the fund and second republic President Shehu Shagari lauded the state government, sultanate council of sokoto and some individuals for their sustained support to it.
Shagari, who was represented by Alhaji Idris Koko, the Madawakin Gwandu, pledged to continue to complement the efforts of the state government to restore the lost glory of the state’s education sector.