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The Nigeria Union of Teachers on Tuesday called on state governors that owe teachers salary arrears to use their remaining months in office to pay off the arrears.
The union’s Secretary-General, Dr Mike Ike-Ene, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja ahead of World Teachers’ Day. World Teachers Day is celebrated on October 5 every year to appreciate teachers. This year’s celebration has ‘Teachers at the heart of education recovery’ as its theme.
Ike-Ene said many state governors owe primary school teachers and secondary schools months of salary arrears. “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 state governors who had been committed to paying teachers’ salaries as and when due. On the new salary scale for teachers, the secretary general said the union and the Federal Government were still working towards its implementation.
Ike-Ene said the new teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years and 35 to 40 years of service had attained 90 per cent implementation. Meanwhile, the Kwara State Government has declared Wednesday (today), a work-free day for teachers in all primary and secondary schools in the state.
A statement signed by the Press Secretary in the state Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Peter Amogbonjaye, said the gesture was to allow teachers in the state to celebrate the day.
The statement said the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education And Human Capital Development, Mrs Mary Adeosun, made the decision of the state government known in her office on Tuesday.
(punchng.com)
