The Nigeria Union of Teachers in Kwara State on Saturday in Ilorin commended the state government for promptly paying its members’ salaries.

The state NUT Chairman, Yusuf Agboola, while speaking during the 2024 World Teachers’ Day celebration, also lauded the government on cash-backing for 2021 and 2022 promotions and promotion approval for 2023 and 2024. .

He however noted that teachers in the state still faced challenges of incorrect implementation of other allowances, such as the 27.5 per cent Teachers Specific Allowance. 

Mr Agboola said, “This problem is peculiar to only Kwara in the entire federation, and we have the problem of non-implementation of November 2023 palliatives for teachers under the Teaching Service Commission. Also, there is the non-implementation of annual increment steps for State Universal Basic Education Board teachers, non- recruitment of more teachers for senior secondary schools in spite of massive retirements between 2022 and 2024.’’

The NUT Kwara State chairman added that the state government had yet to implement the 65/40 years harmonised retirement age for teachers in Nigeria.

In his remarks, Chairman, Kwara State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Muritala Olayinka, said efforts were ongoing with other stakeholders to ensure the new minimum wage’s implementation.

”The committee set up by the state government is working round the clock to ensure that the new minimum wage is implemented. I, therefore, urge teachers in the state to exercise a little patience. At the end of the day, we will come out with something tangible that will make everybody smile,” he said.

Corroborating Mr Olayinka’s comments, Chairman of the state SUBEB, Prof. Shehu Adaramaja, assured that teachers would be taken care of in the new minimum wage.

Represented by Abdullatef Solagberu, Mr Adaramaja said a committee had been inaugurated by the state government and the NUT was adequately represented. 

(NAN)