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.