The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT)

  • Oyo Speaker bags teachers’ exemplary leadership, humanitarian service award

    Oyo Speaker bags teachers’ exemplary leadership, humanitarian service award

    The Oyo State Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has honoured the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adebo Ogundoyin with an Exemplary Leadership and Humanitarian Service Award.

    This prestigious recognition was given to Ogundoyin for his outstanding contributions to education and humanity through quality legislation.

    The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde presented the award to Ogundoyin on behalf of the teachers at the 2024 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Ibadan.

    In his response, the Speaker expressed gratitude to teachers in the state for the esteemed recognition.

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    “I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this prestigious Exemplary Leadership and Humanitarian Service Award from the Oyo State Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers. 

    “This recognition is not just a testament to my commitment to education and humanity, but also a validation of the collective efforts of the Oyo State House of Assembly in supporting and promoting legislation that will enhance the welfare of teachers and the development of our education sector.

    “I want to express my sincere gratitude to the NUT for this esteemed award. Your organization’s dedication to advancing the teaching profession and promoting quality education is truly commendable.”

  • Over 600 teachers killed in North east-NUT

    The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has condemned the incessant killings and abduction of school officials by armed bandits in Zamfara state and other parts of the country.

    Dr Mike Ike-Ene, the Secretary-General of the NUT made the condemnation in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Friday, describing it as `alarming and worrisome’.

    According to Ike-Ene, the Union is deeply concerned over the rising insecurity in some parts of the North, urging the Federal Government to fashion out an agenda to help check the trend for peaceful coexistence.

    He said that community policing using vigilance group was not enough to check insecurity in the country, but rather collective effort and adequate security apparatus.

    Ike-Ene disclosed that over 600 teachers have lost their lives in the North East through insurgency and social unrest in the area, adding that it has discouraged teachers from working or being transferred to the affected states.

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    The secretary-general, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to do all it could to secure the release of the abductees and ensure total security of both students and teachers across the country.

    “The insecurity in the country has become so rampant that people could no longer sleep with their two eyes closed,” he said.

    Two caterers and three children during an attack on Government Girls Secondary School, Moriki, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara were on Wednesday night abducted by unknown bandits.

    NAN

     

  • Teachers’ sack: NUT begins indefinite strike in Kaduna

    Teachers’ sack: NUT begins indefinite strike in Kaduna

    The Kaduna State Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), has directed its member to commence indefinite strike on Monday, Jan. 8, over the sack of 21,780 public primary school teachers in the state.

    This is contained in a notice of strike dated Jan. 4, 2018, signed by the union’s Assistant Secretary General, Adamu Anglo, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Sunday.

    NAN reports that the teachers were sacked for allegedly failing to score 75 per cent pass mark of the competency test organised by the state government in June 2017.

    The notice, circulated to all the union executives in the 23 local government areas of the state indicated that a two weeks ultimatum was earlier issued to the state government to reverse its decision.

    According to the union, the decision has become necessary after the state government began issuing sack letters to the affected teachers after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

    “As a responsible union, we ventilated our grievances before the National Industrial Court, Kaduna, and the court on Dec. 4, 2017, granted an interlocutory injunction, restraining the state government from disengaging any teacher pending the determination of the case.

    “The court order was served to Gov Nasir El-Rufai, but surprisingly, he went on to order the distribution of letters of disengagement to the affected teachers, dated Nov. 3rd, 2017.

    “We, therefore, met on January 4th, 2018 and unanimously resolved to embark on indefinite strike action on Monday 8.”

    The notice also highlighted other unresolved issues with the state government, such as compulsory retirement of secondary school teachers before their due date as against the 35 years of service or 60 years of age provided by civil service rules.

    Other issues include non payment of 2015 leave transport grant to 3,338 primary school teacher s, as well as 2016 and 2017 leave transport grant to all public school teachers despite deductions at source.

    The teachers are also asking for payment of salary arrears of more than 15,000 primary school teacher s  of one to 12 months from June 2015 to July 2016.

    The NUT also said the government has failed pay the salaries to some teachers, while others are under payed.

    It stressed that the state government has also failed to promote them and provide teaching and learning materials to schools among others. (NAN)

    FDY/MZA

  • Kebbi to retrain unqualified teachers

    Kebbi to retrain unqualified teachers

    The Kebbi government has decided to re-train unqualified teachers in the state, rather than sacking them.

    The state’s Commissioner for education, Alhaji Muhamaadu Aliero, made the announcement on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi.

    Aliero was addressing newly-elected officers of the state’s chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers ( NUT ).

    He said that unqualified primary and junior secondary school teachers would be encouraged to acquire the required qualification to be retained as teachers.

    The commissioner advised teachers to ensure that pupils in primary schools were capable of reading and writing as requirements for admission into junior secondary schools.

    Aliero said that principals would henceforth, be graded based on the success recorded by their pupils.

    According to him, a policy will be introduced to limit the number of students in a class room to 40 while, streams will be limited to A, B and C.

    He assured that infrastructure would be provided to accommodate the growing number of students, urging teachers to support the efforts made by government to raise the standard of education in the state.

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  • NUT urges KDSG to pay backlog of salary arrears

    NUT urges KDSG to pay backlog of salary arrears

    As teachers celebrate World Teachers’ Day, the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers ( NUT ), has urged the state government to pay salary arrears owed its members.

    “Some teachers in Kaduna State are owed up to 11 months salary arrears; we think this is unfair,” Mr Audu Amba, the NUT chairman in the state, said on Thursday in Kaduna, at an event organised to mark the day.

    Amba equally decried the consistent delay in the payment of local government teachers’ salaries.

    “Sometimes, teachers are paid two or three weeks after other workers have received their salaries. We find this disappointing,” he said.

    The chairman also urged government to pay teachers the balance of 2015 leave grant, as well as the 2016 leave grant that was still being awaited.

    “Ten per cent of teachers’ salary is deducted monthly and paid to them as their leave grant at the end of the year; paying the grant should actually be a right and not a privilege,” he said.

    Amba called for more training and re-training of teachers, especially those in primary schools, so as to boost the quality of service delivery.

    He said that the theme of the 2017 teachers day, “Teaching in Freedom: Empowering Teachers”, was to emphasise the need for a free teaching atmosphere.

    “Teaching in freedom will encourage teachers to discharge their primary responsibilities of imparting knowledge, skills and character on the younger generation,” he explained.

    Amba, nonetheless, commended the state government for the the massive rehabilitation and furnishing of public schools, and also lauded the unprecedented budgetary allocation of more than 33 per cent to the education sector.

    “That huge budgetary allocation far exceeds the UNESCO recommendation of 26 percent,” he noted.

    NAN

  • Edo NUT bemoans dearth of teachers in secondary schools

    Edo NUT bemoans dearth of teachers in secondary schools

    The Edo wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers ( NUT ) on Wednesday bemoaned the dearth of teachers in public secondary schools across the state.

    The state Secretary of the Union, Mr Mike Itua, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that the problem would have adverse effect on students’ performance.

    Itua said that the state government must urgently recruit more teachers, in order to maintain standard in the schools.

    According to him, the situation will degenerate to a state of emergency, if new teachers are not employed before the end of the year, because more teachers would be retiring.

    Itua, however, said that in spite of the challenges, Gov. Godwin Obaseki, meant well for the sector as he had pledged to commit 60 per cent of the state budget to education.

    The NUT secretary noted that already, the State Universal Basic Education Board had taken steps towards recruiting more personnel into the education sector, while some Federal Government N-power recruits have been posted to teach.

    He commended the government for the total revamping and overhauling of infrastructure in the sector, saying “ the Adams Oshiomhole Administration started it when our present governor was the Chairman of the state’s economic team.

    “Now that he is governor, I tell you without fear of contradiction that he is building on the successes of his predecessor”.

  • Borno: Blind man granted teaching appointment by Governor yet to receive salary

    Borno: Blind man granted teaching appointment by Governor yet to receive salary

    Mr Mohammed Mustapha, a 32 year-old blind university graduate in Borno offered automatic teaching appointment by Gov. Kashim Shettima on compassionate ground, says his salary has not been paid for the past five months.

    Mustapha told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri on Tuesday that the development had place him under severe hardship,

    NAN recalls that Mustapha, a graduate of History from Gombe State University,was employed into the state civil service in February 2017 sequel to the directives of Gov. Shettima, and  posted  to each at  College of Management Studies (CMS), Konduga.

    The governor’s gesture followed an appeal to him by Mustapha through the Hausa Service of the BBC, requesting for job.

    Shettima had then invited Mustapha to the Government House, Maiduguri, after hearing the appeal through the radio station, and granted him an Executive approval for him to be employed by Borno Ministry of Higher Education.

    However, Mustapha told NAN that he was yet to receive his salary for five months since his posting to the college.

    According to him, from the time he reported to work, he had been transporting himself to and from Konduga, a distance of about 60km from Maiduguri, where he resided.

    “Honestly, life has become more difficult and very unbearable, since I was employed.

    “They said I must undergo the Biometric Verification before I get paid, which I already did in March.

    “On several occasions, I had gone to the verification committee to inquire why I was yet to be paid but no tangible explanation was given to me.

    “The last time I went, they said I must get a note from the Head of Service (HOS) before they treat my case; I went to him (HOS) and he promised to do something and I am still waiting.

    “Now I am left confused and I do not know what to do; I am not a beggar and I do not want to ever beg anyone.

    “I want an opportunity where I can work to earn a legitimate livelihood and impact on the lives of my people,’’ said Mustapha.

    In his response, Malam Bulama Abiso, Chairman of  Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Borno, said that Mustapha was not the only teacher who was affected.

    “Many of our teachers’ salaries have been pending despite been verified by the Biometric Committee.

    “Some are owed five months, some seven and some even ten months salaries.

    “As union, what we did was to approach members of the committee and ask them to identify our teachers having issues with their verification.

    “We were able to identify those with problems and solved same for them.

    “So far, about 4,000 teachers were successfully verified, while some were not,’’ Abiso said.

    Meanwhile, Mr Titus Abana, Borno Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), said the verification exercise had brought untold hardship to legitimate workers in the state.

    Abana lamented that non-payment of salaries of workers that had been verified, was lamentable.

    “We told them (committee) to continue paying salaries of workers while verifications continues, but they refused.

    “They told us that the exercise will only last for two months, but now as I am talking to you, there are workers that are yet to be paid their ten months salaries,’’ he lamented.

    Reacting, Alhaji Yakubu Bukar, Borno Head of Service, told NAN that he was aware of the case of Mustapha.

    “The case of Mustapha is a special case; his case is with Bako, the Chairman of the Verification Committee.

    “I am not the one handling his issue but I have asked Bako to bring it forward to be treated,’’ Bukar said.

  • NUT opposes handover of payment of teachers’ salaries to LGCs

    NUT opposes handover of payment of teachers’ salaries to LGCs

    The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), says the union is opposed to handover of payment of primary schools teachers’ salaries to the local government councils.

    Mr Simon Ozo, Ebonyi NUT Chairman, stated this on Monday in Abakaliki in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    According to him, the union’s opposition to the planned handover of payment of teachers’ salaries to local government administration is hinged on the Supreme Court decision, which granted payment of salary of primary school teachers to states.

    “There is need for the Federal Government to respect the 2012 Supreme Court’s judgment on the responsibility of state and federal governments to primary school education in Nigeria.

    “The plan if allowed to sail through will pose serious threat to the foundation of education in Nigeria, and every genuine and bold attempt must be made by education loving Nigerians to rescue and save primary education from imminent collapse.

    “We do not want the payment of salaries of our primary school teachers to be joined in the autonomy that will be granted the local government.

    “The Supreme Court made it very clear that the management of primary school is in the hands of state governments and we stand on this verdict.

    “We don’t know why anybody in his right thinking senses will want primary school teachers’ salaries to be joined with local government areas.

    “We know the excesses of our local government chairmen and their administration, they will not remember the teachers, they will prefer to marry new wives, build new houses, buy new cars and take care of their girl friends rather than pay our salaries.

    “This is why the union is opposed to the plan and as teachers we say, have your autonomy, but allow our salaries to come from state governments or let it go through Universal Basic Education Commission direct so that we receive our salaries promptly, “Ozo added.

    He said that the protest which took place on June 22 in Ebonyi, also took place in other parts of the country.

    Mr Leo Nkah, the President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ebonyi Chapter,who spoke on the issue, supported the NUT’s position.

    Nkah said that the teachers only want to secure their future, stressing that they were not against local government autonomy.

    Nkah, who is also the Acting Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ), Ebonyi Chapter, noted that the local government councils were saddled with the payment of teachers’ salaries.

    He stressed that it should not be so, adding that the local government council were required to participate in the payment of teachers’ salaries.

    Nkah said that any constitutional arrangement should ensure that this participatory clause is respected.

  • Kano approves N578m for payment of teachers

    Kano approves N578m for payment of teachers

    The Kano State Government said it had approved N578 million for the payment of 44, 654 primary school teachers and other non-teaching personnel‎ under the state’s Universal Basic Education Board. ‎

    The Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, made this known on Tuesday in a statement by the Press Secretary to the state Governor, ‎ Malam Ameen Yassar‎.

    He said the amount would cater for those who had been notionally promoted in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.  ‎‎‎
    ‎
    He stated that the State Executive council, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, approved the payment, which takes effect from June 2017, following negotiations with representatives of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT).

    “After series of deliberations between the government and the unions, especially in view of the financial situation, it was unanimously agreed that the workers would forfeit their arrears.

    “As at May, 2017, the state government was paying the primary school teachers N2. 33 billion, but with the new development, their salaries would rise to N2. 91 billion,” he said.

    According to him, the council has directed the Ministry of Finance and Office of the Accountant General to ensure that implementation of the increased salaries from the month of June, 2017 begins immediately,” he said.