The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT)

  • Centre to sensitise MDAs to gender mainstreaming 

    Centre to sensitise MDAs to gender mainstreaming 

    The Centre for Gender Studies International is set to sensitise government’s Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to importance of gender mainstreaming in their various offices.

    Mrs Love Onyechere, Executive Secretary, Centre for Gender Studies International, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.

    She said that there was an urgent need for the institutionalisation of gender mainstreaming in MDAs as it would promote gender equality and eradicate biases among Nigerian workers.

    Onyechere noted that the sensitisation would take place during the National Consultative Conference on Institutionalising Gender Mainstreaming in Public Service in Nigeria.

    According to her, the event which is scheduled between August 28 and 30 at Uyo is organised in collaboration with the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

    It is aimed to ensure continuous dialogue and development of acceptable modalities for the full implementation of National Policy on Gender.

    “The conference will focus on institutionalisation strategies, boosting gender knowledge, gender justice and guarantee of human rights in work places, challenges and way forward.

    “Others are technical expertise and appropriate tools and instruments for sustained gender responsiveness and effective gender equality tracking and benchmarking of progress,” she said.

    According to Onyechere, policy makers including legislatures, members of the executive and judiciary arms including representatives from all the local government areas would be in attendance.

    Others are labour unions such as Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria.

    She told NAN that the conference would be delivered by the UN office in Nigeria, the Nigeria Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International, Nigeria Office, among others.

  • Court dissolves 12-year-old marriage over threat to life

    Court dissolves 12-year-old marriage over threat to life

    A Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday dissolved a 12-year-old marriage between Oluwatoyin Olanrewaju and her husband, Asimiyu Olanrewaju, over threat to life.

    The president of the court, Mr. Ademola Odunade, held that the union between Oluwatoyin and Asimiyu collapsed due to irreconcilable differences.

    “In the interest of peace and order, the union between both of you has ceased to be, henceforth.

    “The custody of the two children produced by the union is granted to Oluwatoyin.

    “Asimiyu shall pay a monthly feeding allowance of N10,000 for their  upkeep in addition to being  responsible for their education and other welfare,” Odunade said.

    Earlier, Oluwatoyin, a nurse by profession had told the court that her husband, Asimiyu, was threatening her life with machete.

    “My lord, ever since I married Asimiyu, I have never known anything called peace as he usually frustrated my stay in his house with the threat of hacking me to death.

    “From day one of our marriage, his mother stated that she was not going to accept me as her son’s wife because I was no match for him.

    “I told Asimiyu to let us terminate the relationship, but he promised that he would forge ahead with me.

    “I saw hell when I was to be delivered of our first child. Only the placenta was coming out from my vaginal while the baby refused to come out until God took charge.

    “After then, he turned me into a punching bag anytime he wished.

    “Worst still, Asimiyu often destroyed my clinic equipment, thereby denting my image before my patients or customers.

    “For years, he decided not to fend for the children and me until he sent us out of the house.

    “In fact, Asimiyu has no milk of human kindness in him,” Oluwatoyin said.

    Asimiyu, an employee of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Ibadan, accepted the divorce suit.

    He, however, denied most of the allegations Oluwatoyin leveled against him.

    “My lord, it is absolutely untrue that my mother contributed to the marital problems between Oluwatoyin and me.

    “I must say that I made a terrible mistake to have ventured into the marriage.

    “Oluwatoyin has done everything within her power to pull me down from greatness and I am still facing the challenges till date.

    “I am a Muslim and I married her while she was a member of the Christ Apostolic Church.

    “All of the sudden, she started attending a white-garment church and was performing rituals for people in my house.

    “I got irritated because we never, ever discussed converting my house into a spiritual centre.

    “That was what she meant when she alleged in her submission that I was denting her image before her patients or customers

    “Oluwatoyin had no time to take care of our children because she devoted all her time to her spiritual activities.

    “The older of our two children was supposed to write his promotional examination in his school, but Oluwatoyin refused to let him go.

    “I became angry because of her action and I took the child away from her. She, however, reported the matter to the Orita-Aperin Police Station and some policemen from there to arrest me.

    “For the past one month, I have been taking care of that child which means that I am capable of catering for our two children in her absence,” Asimiyu said.

  • NUT official urges FG to recruit indigenous language teachers

    NUT official urges FG to recruit indigenous language teachers

    Mr Nwankwo Ndukwu, Publicity Secretary, Rivers chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has urged the Federal Government to recruit indigenous language teachers to fill vacancies in Unity Secondary Schools.

    Ndukwu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Port Harcourt that many indigenous language teachers in the unity secondary schools had retired, while the few still in the schools were overworked and also on the way out.

    “Since the few teachers currently in the school system are fast approaching their retirement age, government should engage more hands, if we are to sustain the teaching of the subjects,” he said.

    He, however, said that recruiting the teachers could pose a serious challenge because most tertiary institutions in Nigeria no longer offer academic courses in indigenous languages.

    “This is partly caused by the lack of interest to study indigenous language. Nobody wants to study indigenous language in the university; so the few ones left are gradually phasing out.

    “Similarly, most tertiary institutions do not offer indigenous language as courses. Only Alvan Ikokwu College of Education in Imo State has a Department of Igbo Language in the Eastern region.

    “In Rivers State, for instance, there are no such courses offered in tertiary institution. This affects the indigenous language policy.

    “The policy made the three major languages – Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo – compulsory for students of unity secondary schools across the country.

    “Hausa language is widely taught in schools in the North; Yoruba in the West and Igbo in the East.

    “A major concern is that some students find it difficult to cope with those subjects; many others just do not like them partly because they were not thought indigenous language in primary schools.

    “However, a remarkable progress has been achieved with the indigenous language policy.

    “For example, my daughter, who could barely speak Igbo language in the past, now speaks it fluently. She reads Igbo Bible and interprets it.

    “The policy has equally helped students to understand their cultures and norms with renewed sense of identity.

    “If Igbo language, rather than English language, is used to teach mathematics to students in the Eastern states, I can assure you that the students will excel in the subject,” he said.

    Ndukwu regretted that most students, who reside in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and other urban centres, could hardly recite proverbs in their native languages.

    “These proverbs are an important method used to pass knowledge for easy understanding of local traditions. We should do everything to ensure that they do not disappear” he said.

  • Labour unions resolve to support LG autonomy

    The leadership of labour unions in the country have resolved to support Local Government Autonomy.

    The unions are National Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Medical Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN).

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, the President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said this in a statement jointly signed by him, Mr Ibrahim Khaleel, President NULGE and Mr Michael Alogba- Olukoya, President of NUT.

    Wabba said that the decision was taken after exhaustive deliberations at a meeting convened by the National Leadership of the NLC.

    He said the meeting was to address some concerns raised by the unions with respect to the ongoing agitation by NULGE for Local Government Automotive.

    Speaking on primary school education in the country, the NLC president said it should be seen as a stepping stone and the foundation of all forms of education that deserved a national policy.

    He said the funding should be the responsibility of the federal, state and local governments in order to ensure, guarantee and effect regular and timely payment of teachers’ salaries, entitlements and benefits.

    Wabba also stressed the need for  teachers’ salaries to be a first line charge on the federation account.

    He, however, said another alternative was that the Constitution should strengthen the Supreme Court judgment in the Attorney-General of the Federation versus Attorneys-General of the 36 states, NWLR 6th May, 2002, Part 764.

    According to him, Part 764 stipulates  that removing in the process every ambiguity, lacuna or impediment, ceding responsibility for payment of teachers’ salaries to states wherein it is stated inter alia.

    “It also states that ” as far as primary education is concerned, a local government council only participates with the State Government. The function obviously remains with the State Government”.

    “It stated the tha ” existing agencies such as Universal Basic Education Commission, State Universal Basic Education Commission should be strengthened and empowered to play their roles and discharge their functions”.

    “It also states that the autonomy of local government councils shall be total, comprehensive with all the rights, structures, duties, functions, privileges and obligations.

    “It is clearly spelt out as is the case with the federal and state governments.

    “It stated that Clauses 7, 8, 162 and any other clause in the 1999 Constitution that compromise the autonomy of local government should be deleted, he said.

    Wabba explained that this was in order to give free and unfettered meaning to “autonomy” and make local governments function as third-tier governments.

    According to him, it will also ensure that  Local governments are directly funded and tenure of their executive and legislature stated.

    “It will also ensure unfettered establishment and functionality of the Primary Health Care Boards and Authorities that include salaries, training, programme funding such as immunization, among others,” he added.

  • NUT national president advocates teachers tribunal

    NUT national president advocates teachers tribunal

    Mr Michael Alogba, the National President, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has called for the setting up of teachers tribunal to try teachers against unprofessional ethics.

    Alogba made the call on Wednesday in Ibadan at a workshop on Training the Trainers organised by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) for selected teachers in the country.

    Alogba said that the union was not always happy when teachers engaged in unethical behaviours.

    He said that the TUC was more concerned about the standard in teaching, adding, “one cannot give what one does not have’’.

    “We are more concerned about the standard in teaching. There should be no room for quarks in the teaching profession.

    “This is because quacks will go into the classroom, damage the pupils and possibly make them more confused than they were before, it is the responsibility of the NUT to ensure this does not happen,” he said.

    The NUT president, however, commended the Buhari administration in the restructuring of the education sector.

    He said that the union was more than ready to partner with the TRCN to move the teaching profession in Nigeria to a place of Eldorado.

    He said that the move by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and the TRCN in terms of professionalism in the teaching profession “is a right step in the right direction’’.

    “This move of making teaching to a professional standard will bring about change in attitude and will improve the quality of education in the country,” he said.

  • Lagos NUT intensifies lobby to extend teachers’ retirement age

    Lagos NUT intensifies lobby to extend teachers’ retirement age

    The Lagos State Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on Monday called for an immediate extension of the retirement age of teachers from to 60 years to 65 years.

    Mr Segun Raheem, Chairman of the Lagos NUT, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview that the extension had become imperative.

    He argued that the retirement age extension was necessary to retain experienced people in the profession.

    On May 31, the national body of the NUT visited the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, seeking the support of the lawmakers in achieving their goal.

    Raheem noted that the rate at which experienced people were leaving the teaching profession was alarming and that retired teachers needed urgent replacement.

    He argued that if the retirement age of lecturers and other professionals such as lawyers could be extended it was logical for the retirement age of teachers at the foundation level of education to be extended.

    “The extension of the retirement age of teachers to 65 years and extension of years of service to 40 would reduce the dearth of experienced hands.

    “Most teachers are retiring and the governments are not recruiting replacements.

    “How do we expect the sector to survive without experienced hands that would mentor upcoming teachers?

    “It should be noted that the primary and secondary levels are the foundation of education and should be handled right before the tertiary level.’’

    The unionist pointed out that the age extension should not be made compulsory so that teachers, who wished to retire at 60 or after 35 years of service could be allowed to retire.

  • ‘N/Assembly will raise teachers’ retirement age to 65’

    ‘N/Assembly will raise teachers’ retirement age to 65’

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, has assured Nigerian teachers that the National Assembly will increase their retirement age from 60 to 65 years to retain more experienced teachers in public schools.

    Dogara disclosed this when he received a delegation from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) who paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The speaker said that the house would support an upward review of teachers’ retirement age to benefit Nigerian children.

    “We have done it for the Tertiary institutions and the Judiciary, so nothing should stop us from taking the bull by the horns.

    “They say that wine gets better with age. It was the same consideration that motivated us to raise that of university lecturers, raised that of judges. So this is something we can pursue.

    “Thankfully, it doesn’t require constitutional amendment, it is something we can achieve by amending the existing law.

    “That is the responsibility of the parliament and we assure you that we will do something about that so that the benefit that comes with experience and wisdom will not be lost,” he said

    Dogara said that the welfare and working condition of teachers must also be upgraded to enable Nigerian citizens compete with the global world and produce citizens that can achieve development that the country seeks.

    “If we don’t have people who will sacrifice their time and energy to impact knowledge on our children, then like I said, we have lost the future.

    “This government which is a government of change must be prepared to change the narrative by ensuring that teachers are motivated and the condition in which they work are conducive at all levels, so that they can deliver on their professional calling,” he said.

    The speaker also advised the union to channel their request for salaries of teachers to be handed over to state governments or paid from first-line charge from the federation account through the Universal Basic Education Commission to the Constitution Review of the House of Representatives for consideration.

    Comrade Alogba Olukoya, the National President of NUT, said the union preferred that payment of teachers’ salaries be handed over to State governments. He also canvassed for an increase in the retirement age of teachers from 60 to 65 years.

    The teachers union also demanded that teachers’ salaries be paid from first-line charge from the federation account through the Universal Basic Education Commission.

    “We want the responsibilities of paying the salaries of Teachers be handed over to State Governments in which case the salaries component of the revenue allocation of the Local Governments will have to be transferred to the states and restructure the fiscal allocation of our national resources in favour of the states to guarantee uninterrupted and unfettered primary education in Nigeria.

    “We teachers of Nigeria in primary and secondary schools do seek and demand that our retirement age be raised to 65 years to increase the teacher retention rate in our schools.

    “This will help to check the rate at which experienced teachers are being lost in the school system whereas younger and prospective teachers are not recruited to take their places,” Olukoya said.

  • We will raise teachers’ retirement age to 65 -Dogara

    We will raise teachers’ retirement age to 65 -Dogara

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, has assured Nigerian teachers that the National Assembly will increase their retirement age from 60 to 65 years to retain more experienced teachers in public schools.

    Dogara disclosed this when he received a delegation from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) who paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The Speaker said that the House would support an upward review of teachers’ retirement age to benefit Nigerian children.

    “We have done it for the Tertiary institutions and the Judiciary, so nothing should stop us from taking the bull by the horns.

    “They say that wine gets better with age. It was the same consideration that motivated us to raise that of university lecturers, raised that of judges. So this is something we can pursue.

    “Thankfully, it doesn’t require a constitutional amendment, it is something we can achieve by amending the existing law.

    “That is the responsibility of the parliament and we assure you that we will do something about that so that the benefit that comes with experience and wisdom will not be lost,” he said

    Dogara said that the welfare and working condition of teachers must also be upgraded to enable Nigerian citizens to compete with the global world and produce citizens that can achieve development that the country seeks.

    “If we don’t have people who will sacrifice their time and energy to impact knowledge on our children, then like I said, we have lost the future.

    “This government which is a government of change must be prepared to change the narrative by ensuring that teachers are motivated and the condition in which they work are conducive at all levels, so that they can deliver on their professional calling,” he said.

    The speaker also advised the union to channel their request for salaries of teachers to be handed over to state governments or paid from first-line charge from the federation account through the Universal Basic Education Commission to the Constitution Review of the House of Representatives for consideration.

    Comrade Alogba Olukoya, the National President of NUT,said the union preferred that payment of teachers’ salaries be handed over to State governments. He also canvassed for an increase in the retirement age of teachers from 60 to 65 years.

    The teachers union also demanded that teachers’ salaries be paid from first-line charge from the federation account through the Universal Basic Education Commission.

    “We want the responsibilities of paying the salaries of Teachers be handed over to State Governments in which case the salaries component of the revenue allocation of the Local Governments will have to be transferred to the states and restructure the fiscal allocation of our national resources in favour of the states to guarantee uninterrupted and unfettered primary education in Nigeria.

    “We teachers of Nigeria in primary and secondary schools do seek and demand that our retirement  age be raised to 65 years to increase the teacher retention rate in our schools.

    “This will help to check the rate at which experienced teachers are being lost in the school system whereas younger and prospective teachers are not recruited to take their places,” Olukoya said.

  • Second anniversary: NUT commends Buhari’s administration

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government for its achievements, especially in the educational sector.

    The Acting Secretary-General of the union, Dr Mike Ike-Ene, gave the commendation on Monday while assessing the administration second anniversary on occasion of 2017 Democracy Day celebration.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that there had been relative peace in the education sector since administration assumed office in 2015.

    “Although I will not say that we have gotten it correctly, but when there is relative peace to an extent, we can say that there is progress.

    ”At least one thing this administration has done is being a little proactive to issues concerning education and other areas.

    ”This government is more open to dialogue, negotiation and discussion and when these things are involved in any issue, parties concerned understand themselves better,” he said.

    Ike-Ene, however, appealed to the president to intervene in teachers’ unpaid salary in some states, bemoaning the rate at which some state governments were owing teachers.

    According to him, Benue, Bayelsa, Osun and Imo governors, among others, are owing primary school teachers several months’ salary.

    “As I talk to you now our primary school teachers in Benue are owed 10 months’ salary arrears and they are still working; 10 good months and people cannot put food on their tables.

    “There are cases whereby the father and the mother are teachers; are they going to rob bank before they put food on their table?

    “It is not only Benue, Bayelsa is also owing for eight months. It is also in Osun and many other states, including Imo, where our teachers are paid in percentages.

    “Primary school teachers are owed various sums of money in various states,” he said.

    Ike-Ene, therefore, called on the Federal Government to call the governors concerned to order, saying that teachers may be directed to stop work in those states.

  • NUT applauds Buhari’s administration, appeals for payment of outstanding salaries

    NUT applauds Buhari’s administration, appeals for payment of outstanding salaries

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on Monday applauded the Buhari led administration for its achievements, especially in the educational sector and appealed for intervention on teachers’ unpaid salary arrears.

    The Acting Secretary General of the union, Dr Mike Ike-Ene, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the applause became necessary considering the relative peace in the country since its inception.

    “Although I will not say that we have gotten it correctly, when there is relative peace to an extent, we can now say that there is progress.

    “At least one thing this administration has done is being a little proactive to issues concerning education and other areas.

    “This government is more open to dialogue, negotiation and discussion and when these things are involved in any issues, parties concerned understand themselves better,” he noted.

    Ike-Ene also decried the rate at which some state governments were owing teachers’ salary arrears for months.

    According to him, Benue, Bayelsa, Osun and Imo governors, among others, are owing primary school teachers several months of salary arrears.

    “As I talk to you now our teachers in Benue primary schools are owed 10 months salary arrears and they are still working; 10 good months people cannot put food on their table.

    “ There are cases whereby the father and the mother are teachers, are they going to rob bank before they put food on their table; not only Benue, Bayelsa also owes eight good months.

    “In Osun, very many states; in Imo state our teachers are paid in percentages; primary school teachers are owed various sums of money in various states.

    Ike-Ene, however, called on the Federal Government to call the governors concerned to order, saying that teachers would stop work at those states that owed.