The Principal-General Establishment Law, 2024, has successfully passed its second reading at the plenary session of the Ogun State House of Assembly. The session was presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, where members deliberated on the bill. This legislation aims to provide a legal framework for the establishment of four Principals-General in the state, with the goal of enhancing the quality of teaching and learning and boosting teachers’ morale.
Leading the debate for the second reading, the sponsor and Minority Leader of the house, Hon. Lukmon Adeleye, highlighted that the current appointment of Principals-General in the state was initiated through an Executive Order. He emphasized the need to formalize this arrangement through legislation to ensure administrative continuity and to elevate the status of School Principals to be on par with Permanent Secretaries in the core civil service of the state.
Hon. Adeleye commended the State Governor for maintaining the appointment of Principals-General across the four zones of the state. He explained that enacting this bill into law would serve as a legacy legislation, fostering career progression for teachers in Ogun State.
Other lawmakers who spoke in favor of the bill praised its sponsor and underscored the bill’s potential to improve the performance and management of educational authorities across the state’s zones. They described the legislation as an enabler that would reduce administrative bottlenecks in school administration and empower the Principals-General with greater delegated authority.
The legislators agreed that the establishment of this office would motivate teachers to excel in their service, allowing them to reach the pinnacle of their careers.
In his response, Speaker Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide noted that the bill aims to institutionalize the office of the Principals-General and improve their conditions of service, which would, in turn, enhance their productivity. The Speaker subsequently referred the bill to the House Committee on Education, Science, and Technology for further legislative scrutiny and action.
