Teachers
under the employ of the Kogi State Government have rejected the payment of 20%
salary by the government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello and threaten to embark upon a
strike action.
Making
this known to newsmen, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr
Thomas Ayodele called on the state government to restore full payment of salary
and allowances to its members or expect industrial action.
He
made it known that his members can no longer accept salary of between 20
percent and 30 per cent being paid to them since the turn of the year.
Mr
Ayodele insisted that the underpayment, inconsistent percentage and omissions
that have so far characteristerised the payment of primary school teachers’
salaries must stop henceforth.
Calling
on the State Ministry of Local Government Affairs and all twenty one Local
Government Areas of the state, Mr Ayodele tasked them to make the necessary
adjustments and make salary of teachers first line charge as directed by the
state government since July 2017.
Ayodele also called on the state
government to undertake the harmonisation of teachers' payroll to include all
pending cases currently being reviewed by SUBEB, in conjunction with the office
of the state Head of Service.
While demanding immediate payment
of all outstanding salary and allowances of teachers, the union requested that
adequate instructional materials be provided in all schools to enhance teaching
and learning.
He appealed to his members to remain calm, as efforts were
being intensified to resolve salary and other issues with relevant authorities.