By Correspondent in Minna.
The Niger State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has called on the Governor of the state, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello to assume prompt payment of salaries of its members before leaving office.
The state the Nigeria Union, Comrade Akayago Adamu Mohammed,who stated this in Minna, during World Teachers’ Day, itemised challenges facing teachers in the state to include: delayed payment of salaries, inadequate teachers in schools and lack of promotion.
Others,he added, are lack of implementation of provisions of the agreement reached between the union and the government, one year after the agreement was entered into and full implementation of Teachers Salary Structure (TSS).
Mohammed also wants the state government to refund outstanding ENDwell scheme/Cooperatives deductions and four months outstanding salary arrears for primary school teachers recruited in 2019.
According to the Chairman, teachers are also facing security challenges in Shiroro, Rafi Mashegu Paikoro, Munya Mariga and Rijau Local Governnent Areas, adding that the development had made adverse negative affects on the teachers to delivery of quality education in schools.
“The insecurity to entire citizenry, including teachers in Niger State, has equally compelled the state government to close down some schools in the aforementioned local government areas”,he noted.
In his keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of the state-owned, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Prof. Abu Kassim Adamu called for a review of the curriculum for primary and secondary schools to be in line views and aspirations of the present day reality in the country.
Professor Adamu, who also made case for improved remunerations for teachers in primary, secondary and tertiary levels due to difficulties they encounter, argued that without proper remuneration it would be difficult to get the best from the teachers.
Our Correspondent reports that there wasba mild drama at the event when as Local Government Council Chairmen walked out because according to them, the Master of Ceremony (MC), did not introduce them during the programme.
The event also featured instances when some teachers were seen changing,” It is not true”,”When are you going to implement the N50 million endowment fund’ and others.
Some teachers and stakeholders also disrupted the Governor’s speech as it was being read by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mohammad Ahmed Ketso who represented him.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
