The Principal-General Establishment Law, 2024, today scaled through second reading as members of the Ogun State House of Assembly deliberated on the bill and resolved that the Legislation was meant to give legal framework for the establishment of Four (4) Principals-General in the State to improve the quality of teaching and learning as well as boosting the morale teachers.
Members took turn to speak on the bill titled: “H.B No. 016/OG/ 2024- A Bill for a law to Establish the Office of Principal-General in the State and for other matters incidental thereto or connected therewith”, at a Plenary Session held in the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Opening debate on the bill, the Sponsor, Hon. Lukman Adeleye, who had earlier moved the motion for the second reading of the bill, noted that the existing appointment of the Office of Principals-General in the State was a creation of an Executive Order, which needed to be given a legal framework to aid its administrative continuity to allow for School Principals so appointed in the State to be at par with their counterparts (Permanent Secretaries) in the core civil service in the State.
He lauded the State Governor for sustaining the appointment of the Principals-General in the four zones of the State, explaining that the bill when passed into law would be a legislation of legacy that would aid the career progression of teachers in the State.
Other Lawmakers who spoke in favour of the bill including Honourables Yusuf Amosun, Babatunde Tella, Adebisi Oyedele and Oluseun Adesanya, commended the sponsor, explaining that the bill would improve the performance and effective management of the education authorities in zones across the State.
They described the bill as an enabling legislation that would reduce administrative bottleneck in school administration, with improved delegated authority to the Principals-General.
The lawmakers submitted that the creation of the office would enable the teachers in the State to further give their best in their service as it would assist them to reach the pinnacle of their career.
Responding, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, noted that the bill sought to institutionalize the creation of the office for the appointment of the Principals General, adding that the bill under consideration would also improve the conditions of service for the four officials, thereby improving their productivity.
The Speaker thereafter committed the bill to the House Committee on Education, Science, and Technology for further legislative action.