Mr Knabayi Stephen, the Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Chapter, has decried the appointment of people without background in education as head of education agencies.

Stephen made his feelings known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the 2016 May Day celebration on Sunday in Abuja.

According to him, to head an education parastatal, one requires the competence built from being a teacher or an educationist over some years.

“There are cases where some heads of education agencies are not teachers by profession neither are they educationists.

“We want the government to look at this; before anybody can head any education agency, the person must come from education background.

“A situation where people from other professions are heading education agencies is not acceptable to us.

“Among teachers, there are men and women who have the qualifications to head these parastatals.”

He said that NUT was in solidarity with other workers under the umbrella of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), to publicise the challenges confronting workers.

According to him, NUT is in support of the NLC demand to increase the minimum wage from N18, 000 to N56, 000, in view of current realities.

Stephen also urged the APC-led Federal Government to address the problem of power supply and unemployment which were among its campaign promises to Nigerians.

On the proposed recruitment of 500,000 teachers, he said that the union had not been formally approached for advice or contribution, adding, however, that NUT was in support of the proposal.

Furthermore, he said that there was the need for more teachers in the country, adding however, that they must be well qualified as the union would not accept quacks.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of 2016 May Day celebration is ‘The Working Class and the Quest for Socio-Economic Revival.’ (NAN)

•Photo shows NUT President, Comrade Michael Olukoya.