Imo Lawmaker decries lack of Security personnel in schools, as Assembly calls on Uzodimma to direct Education Commissioner to tackle issue

By CHINYERE Nnaemeka

The Imo State House of Assembly has urged Governor Hope Uzodimma to direct the Commissioner for Education to liaise with the relevant agencies in ensuring that adequate security personnel are made available in all the Primary and Secondary Schools in the State.

The members made the call on Thursday when the motion was moved by the Member Representing Owerri Municipal, and Deputy Minority leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Clinton Amadi, and seconded by the Isiala Mbano Legislator, Hon. Sam Osuji

Presenting the motion, Amadi averred that the absence of security personnel attached to the schools has jeopardized the ambience the government has put in place by providing adequate and conducive environment for our children to concentrate and learn.

He pointed out that the activities of criminals and vandals who invade the school premises during and after school period has turned our school into dangerous zones and has made the environment deplorable.

The Owerri Municipal Representative enlisted some of the activities of the vandals and criminals to be – defecating in the school environment, even during school hours, smoking India Hemp, and other kinds of drugs.

He continued, “Turning the classrooms, teachers and headmasters offices to chalets at night, littering the premises with all kinds of illegal items like used condoms, remaining pieces of Indian hemps or tobacco, stealing of furnitures, gates, doors, windows among others.

“These criminals also threaten the lives of teachers and students who try to challenge their activities thereby putting everyone including the Teachers and Students in danger’, Amadi stated’.

He presented a video of Development Primary School 2 in Owerri Municipal where the iron metal used in constructing the documents shelves were vandalized, and the instructional materials and other school files scattered on the floor. Some of the lockers, chairs, and ceiling of the building were also broken, and the environment littered with all sorts of things.

Amadi also cited the Ikenegbu Primary School in Owerri which, he said it has been confirmed that people sleep there at night, and when the students and teachers come to the school the next day, they see all sorts of things which the children are not suppose to see.

He further wondered what would be happening in the primary and secondary schools in the rural areas, since such is witnessed in the ones in the state capital.

Saying that it is not proper that our children are exposed to such environment, stressed that there is need for the issue to be tackled headlong for the safety and sanity of the school environment.

Supporting the motion was the Ikeduru lawmaker, Hon. Johnleoba Iheoha, he reflected on the need for parents to take seriously training of their children to grow to be responsible, so as to reduce the level of criminality in the society.

Adding his voice, the Isiala Mbano Legislator, Hon. Sam Osuji who reiterated that lots of evil are going on in the society, urged the security agencies not to relent in doing their part to arrest the situation, especially in the school environment.

Also speaking, the Onuimo representative, Hon James Esile who frowned at the situation saying that vandals are becoming a problem in state, suggested for Iron scavengers to be banned in the state, to see if the issue of vandalization of people’s properties which he said is even evident in residential areas, will be curtailed.

As there was no one against the motion, it was put to vote by the Speaker, Rt Hon Chike Olemgbe, and the Ayes had it.