I’ll pay more attention to early education – Atiku

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has said he will pay more attention to early education if he becomes president in 2023.

The former vice president said he plans massive investment in education, a sector he claims is broken.

Atiku said on Facebook, “Regrettably, our education system is as broken as every other sector of our national life.

“There is a nexus between development and literacy—however, our current literacy level cannot drive the envisaged level of development.

“To this end, I plan a reform and massive investment in education. On this International Literacy Day, I pledge that under my watch and in collaboration with state governments, more attention will be placed on early education that guarantees the ability to read and write.”

He said this amidst the six months long strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities which has kept students away from universities.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has announced the position of the Federal Government in salary increment of workers, he noted that the government could only afford 23.5 percent salary increase, while a 35% increment will be enjoyed by professors.

The minister disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking during the meeting with vice-chancellors and other stakeholders in the university system.

Adamu noted that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) warned against signing agreements which the government will not be able to meet.

He said,”The Federal Government can only afford a 23.5% salary increase for all category of the workforce in Federal Universities, except for the professorial cadre which will enjoy a 35% upward review.

“That a sum of 150 billion Naira shall be provided for in the 2023 Budget as funds for the revitalization of Federal Universities, to be disbursed to the Institutions in the First Quarter of the year, and that a sum of 50 billion Naira shall be provided for in the 2023 Budget for the payment of outstanding areas of earned academic allowances, to be paid in the First Quarter of the year”.