Umuahia—Education Secretary, Ikwuano Local Government Council in Abia State, Mr. Henry Eleogu, has called on the state government to recruit volunteers to fill the vacancies created by the disengagement of non-indigene teachers.

Eleogu, who made the call in an interview in Umuahia, said the disengagement policy was not targeted at anybody.

He said: “So many Abia indigenes with NCE, Bachelor’s degree in Education and other relevant disciplines should be recruited urgently by government to fill the  gap created by the disengaged teachers.”

Eleogu said there was need for government to take necessary actions to avoid “obvious negative consequences on the standard of education in the area.”

He said although the policy to disengage non-indigenes was to enable government pay the recently approved N18,000 minimum wage, there was need for teachers to re-double their efforts in their services to the state.

“The policy is not a punitive one, but will open up a window for Abia indigenes to occupy strategic positions in government as well as enable them to enjoy the N18,000 minimum wage like other workers across the nation,” he said.

Eleogu advised the teachers, who were disengaged from the state service, to meet with their state chapters of the NUT to facilitate their engagement.

He said: “The governor is doing a lot for teachers; he is paying their salary and other entitlements regularly.”