News

By Omolara Adasofunjo

The Ogun State House of Assembly has intervened in the recent transfer of teachers across the state, following concerns raised by the state chapter of the Academic staff union of secondary schools,Asuss.

The Speaker of the House, Mr Oludaisi Elemide, made the appeal during a stakeholders’ meeting involving lawmakers, the Teaching Service Commission and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Mr Elemide who urged the Teaching Service Commission to address issues raised by the state chapter of the union, advised the commission to adopt a humane approach in the exercise.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, Comrade Felix Agbesanwa, represented by the State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress and immediate past ASUSS Chairman, Comrade Akeem Lasisi, alongside the Welfare Secretary, Mr Femi Ayannuga, and the State Secretary, Mr Oluseyi Bankole, said the union was not opposed to redeployment.

They, however, called for a review of the exercise, citing concerns over its timing, possible effects on external examinations such as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, accommodation and transportation challenges, teachers’ morale and professional stability.

The union appealed to the Teaching Service Commission to review the transfers in the interest of teachers’ welfare and effective teaching and learning in public secondary schools across the state.

In a response, Commissioner, Teaching Service Commission, Mr Adeola Akintonde, commended the Speaker and the House for the intervention.

He said the commission had anticipated the concerns and had already constituted an appeal panel to address genuine cases raised by the union.

Edited by Taiwo Akinola

Sport

Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has submitted a request to leave the club.

The 33-year-old has spent his entire career with the Spanish giants with whom he won six Ballon d’Or.

Rumours of Messi’s unhappiness have been swirling since Bayern Munich humiliated Barcelona 8-2 in the Champions League quarter-final on August 14, ending a season that saw the club fail to win any trophies.

Following that match, Barcelona sacked head coach Quique Setien as well as technical manager Eric Abidal.

Barcelona subsequently hired Ronald Koeman to replace Setien, with the Dutchman expressing his desire to keep the Argentine star at Camp Nou.

After sitting down with Messi, however, it appears that Koeman was unable to convince his side’s talisman to become a part of his project.

Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu has previously insisted that Messi will end his career at Camp Nou as Bartomeu’s own future continues to be questioned.

Messi has a clause in his contract, which allows him to leave for free.