Idris Wada owes Kogi teachers N23bn — NUT

The Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has said the Governor Idris Wada's government owes teachers about N23 billion since the commencement of the new minimum wage regime.

NUT chapter chairman, Suleman Abdullahi, who spoke to journalists in Lokoja at the weekend, said the government had also refused to pay leave grants to the teachers in the past four years.

Abdullahi said the total unpaid leave grant is now about N8.7 billion.

The union boss urged the government to how more commitment and be proactive on the welfare of teachers.

He noted that the teachers are passing through challenges because of these unpaid funds, adding teachers cannot give their best under such conditions.

But the chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Nuhu Ahmed, said the N23 billion minimum wage claimed by the teachers was outrageous.

Abdullahi said the government is unaware of the criteria they used in arriving at the figure.

He added that the board had already set up a committee to work out the exact amount being owed and submit it to government.

According to him, the government is already paying leave grants through the ministries.