The Chairman Nigeria Union Of Teachers (NUT), in Niger State Comrade Adamu Mohammed Akayago, has described as painful the unprecedented bondages teachers are being subjected to by successive administrations in the state.
He noted that teachers who are the torchbearers of the positive transformations are always neglected, reduced to un-ceremonial beggars and treated as insignificant civil servants among other workforce in the state public service when it comes to the issue of engaging their welfare.
Speaking at the occasion of 2023 world teachers Day celebration which took place at the Comrade Labaran Garba Multi purpose Conference Centre, at NUT wing Secretariat, Tungagoro in Minna Thursday noted with dismay the suffering state of teachers in Niger state as painful .
According to the chairman, in November, 2018, the salaries of Civil Servants on Consolidated public
SERVICE you Salary Structure (CONPSS), in Niger state was reviewed by twenty five percent by the state government, denying teachers at both primary and post primary schools in the state from benefiting.
" This development did not only make teachers to be the least salary earners in the state public service, but has gone a long way to destroy the aged long Glory and reputation of the teaching profession and equally contributing to the mass Exodus of teachers in Niger State" he stated.
He added that, in the year 2023, the Nigeria Governors forum approved Teachers Salary Structure (TSS), for teachers across the country on the ratio of twenty seven point five percent for professional (qualified)teachers and twelve point five percent for non-professional (unqualified) teachers. noting that only eight and two percent have so far been implemented for both the professional and non professional respectively in the state.
The NUT Chairman noted that unwholesome suffering of teachers in the did not only only make teachers to be the least salary earners in the state public service but has gone a long way to destroy the aged long Glory and reputation of the teaching profession and equally contributing to the mass Exodus of teachers in the state.
He disclosed that the Union has made. concerted efforts through correspondences, meetings, with govermnat officials and executive governor, and even embarked on strike all with the view, to prevail on the State goverment to consider teachers in the twenty five percent salary review, full implementation of teachers salary structure (TSS), and new minimum wage of N 30,000, " but the issue still lingers.
His Excellency totally agree with us that teachers deserve Special palliatives package, arising from the present most challenging working economic situation in the country" Comrade Akayako added
He then aappeal to the present leadership of governor Mohammed Umar Bago to review upward the salaries of teachers in the state in order to reduce their plights, considering the biting economic challenges facing teachers occasioned by the hike in the price of Petro motor spirit ( PMS), as result of the fuel subsidy removal.
In his remarks the governor of Niger state Mohammed Umar Bago appreciated the role of teachers in nation building and assured that his administration will continue to improve the well-being of teachers in Niger state for them see teaching as a noble profession.
Represented by his deputy Comrade Yakubu Garba, reiterate the stance of the administration preparedness to access qualify and inclusive education for all as well as promoting a regime of free and compulsory primary education in the state.
The 2023 Theme for celebration " The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse teacher shortage" witnessed presentation of teachings and instructural materials by the state Commissioner for Basic and secondary education Dr. Hadiza Asabe Mohammed
