Teachers’ Day: NUT Calls on Governors to Pay Salary Arrears

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has urged governors owing teachers salary arrears to use their remaining months in office to pay off the arrears.

Dr Mike Ike-Ene, the Union’s Secretary-General, expressed concern in an interview with newsmen in Abuja ahead of World Teachers’ Day that the arrears of salary owed teachers could be passed on to the next set of governors.

He spoke ahead of the October 5, World Teachers Day celebration which has the theme “Teachers at the Heart of Education Recovery.”

According to Ike-Ene, a large number of state governors owe primary and secondary school teachers months of back pay.

“Many of these teachers have lamented over the inability and irregularities of the state to pay their salaries as and when due following the current economic situation in the country.

“Some state governments owe primary school teachers a backlog of salaries ranging from four to 18 months,’’ he said.

He, however, commended the state governors who had been committed in paying teachers’ salaries as and when due.

The secretary general also encouraged teachers to keep on working hard not minding their salary scale.

He urged government at all levels to provide the enabling environment for teachers to function optimally.

“When a teacher enters a classroom, there are certain things the teacher is looking out for and when these things are there he or she can perform optimally,” he said.

On the new salary scale for teachers, the secretary general said that the union and the Federal Government are still working towards its implementation.

Ike-Ene stated that 90 percent of the new teachers’ retirement age of 60 to 65 years and 35 to 40 years of service had been implemented.

“One of the most important promises had been signed; the issue of 65 and 40 years, the extension of teachers’ service years or the retirement age had been signed.”

“The Federal Government has implemented it, as have some states, but the roadblock is gazetting.” “It has become an act since the president signed it,” he said.

He did, however, say that gazette the policy would give it a number and then it would be enshrined in law, to which one could refer.

As a result, Ike-Ene urged the government to move quickly on the gazette, arguing that it may be the only way for the union to compel state governments to act.

He also advocated for an increase in the education budget, claiming that it was the only way the country could compete with developed nations.

“We should be serious about the various budgets we give to education because a large budgetary allocation to education will go a long way toward improving performance.”

“Also the society needs to do more for the teachers, create initiatives that will motivate teachers for effective service delivery,” he added.(NAN)

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