Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) leadership in Niger State has declared that the economic recession in the country was having negative consequences on the welfare and performances of members in the state.
On the occasion to mark the 2016 World Teachers’ Day in Minna, the state NUT chairman, Ibrahim Umar, said that the recession was also negatively affecting the smooth running of school system and the entire education sector is on the verge of total collapse.
According to Umar, “It is evident that teachers at both primary and post primary schools across the state are owed salaries running into months and in some cases they are paid randomly and on percentage.
“The implications of this inconsistency and its attendant consequences is greatly affecting the morale of our esteemed members and indeed the growth and development of the entire education system. If teachers are not paid, how will they feed or pay for their wards’ school fees”.
Umar also lamented that the present challenges of irregular payments of salaries and allowances due to teachers in the state ‘is posing a red alert on achieving governments’ desired CHANGE in our educational system.
“It is very demoralizing, unfair and unjust to allow teachers particularly at the primary school level to stay for two to four months without salaries. Teachers who are known to be pacesetters, role models have now been compelled to become unceremonious beggars and most neglected specie within the family of civil service, a position they don’t deserve.”
While calling on the state government to address all these problems bedeviling teachers by ensuring regular payment of salaries and allowances, Umar also suggested the introduction of hardline allowances to serve as motivation for teachers in the rural areas.
State Head of Service, Alhaji Sule Yabagi, in a remark acknowledged the fact that the morale of teachers in the state had dropped considerably but assured that the administration would improve on teachers’ condition of service and the entire education sector.