…state government put the burden solely on the local governments
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kogi State chapter has blamed the state government for the salary and other allowances related problems bedeviling teachers of basic education in the state.
The state Chairman of the union, Mr. Suleiman Abdullahi disclosed this while speaking with journalists shortly after a meeting between the union and the board members of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
He explained that if the state government had followed the law which mandated it to also contribute to the funding of basic education, the problem would not have arisen, arguing that what happened is that the state government only put the burden on the local government.
According to him, the law that set up SUBEB in Kogi was signed by former governor Ibrahim Idris in 2005, it stipulated that the financing of SUBEB should be carried out by the state and local governments but this is not the case. So if the state government has been responding in this regard, many of the problems would have been solved.
Abdullahi noted that a committee had been set up headed by the Secretary to State Government Professor Olugbemiro Jegede to look into the matter for purpose of resolving it permanently. He pointed out that apart from November and December salaries and allowances is the cumulative N25 billion balance on the minimum wage since 2011.
Speaking on the unpaid leave grant for teachers in basic schools, the chairman said the SUBEB blamed the education secretary of various local governments for it, saying they are yet to forward names to board for onward submission to the government to effect payment.
He therefore however pleaded with members of the union to remain calm and wait for further directive as government had set up a committee to look into the issue
