By Chinwendu Agoha (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
There was mild drama at the event to commemorate the 2022 World Teachers’ Day in Niger state as Local Government Council Chairmen staged a walk out from the venue of the celebration of the event last wednesday.
Also, chants of ‘it is not true, ‘when are you going to implement the N50 million endowment fund’ and others, from some teachers and stakeholders disrupted the Governor’s speech as it was being read by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mohammad Ahmed Ketso, who represented him.
The chairmen apparently irked by the lack of recognition during introduction of dignitaries by the Master of Ceremony (MC) during the event which took place at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna the state capital, walked out of the venue.
One of the Council Chairmen who did not want his name mentioned in our news report, described as an 'insult' the omission of their names as dignitaries were being recognised by the MC, especially considering the fact that they (chairmen) have been up-to-date in the payment of teachers’ salaries in their councils.
“We pay teachers their salaries as at and when due, how come that after mentioning the names of other dignitaries, including those that were mentioned in absentia, there was no mention of our presence in the hall”, the chairman said as he stormed out of the venue.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Correspondent however reports that it was late to remedy the situation as majority of the chairmen who attended the event were already driving out of the venue by the time the MC was alerted of the consequences of the mistake.
In his welcome address, the Niger state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Akayago Adamu Mohammed, reeled out catalogue of challenges facing teachers in Niger state including; delayed payment of salaries, inadequate teachers in schools and lack of promotion.
Other challenges which the NUT chairman wants the Governor Abubakar Sani Bello led administration to resolve before exiting office next year are; to implement provisions of the agreement reached between the union and the government one year after the agreement was entered into.
Some of the agreements yet to be implemented, he said, are; “Full implementation of Teachers Salary Structure (TSS); refund of outstanding ENDwell scheme/Cooperatives deductions and four months outstanding salary arrears for primary school teachers recruited in 2019.
Comrade Akayago also made mention of security challenges his members are facing in parts of the state like Shiroro, Rafi Mashegu Paikoro, Munya Mariga and Rijau local government areas, which, according to him, has adverse affects to delivery of quality education in schools.
“The unpleasant situation of insecurity to the entire citizenry, including teachers in Niger state, has equally compelled the state government to close down some schools in the aforementioned local government areas”.
Also, in a keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of the state owned, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Prof. Abu Kassim Adamu, called for a review of the curriculum for primary and secondary schools to be in line with the views and aspirations of the present days realities. NNL.
