Primary and junior secondary school teachers in Kogi State under the aegis of Basic Education Teachers Association of Nigeria (BESAN) have alleged that they are being paid as low as only 35 percent of their salary every month.
The association explained that the practice was disheartening and an aberration in the history of education in the state.
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In a letter signed by the state chairman and secretary of the association, Mr Onotu Yahaya and Mr Tope Akintobi respectively, the body noted that the 35 percent monthly salary payment was in violation of the Governor Yahaya Bello’s earlier directive on 60 percent monthly salary payment to teachers.
They called on the governor to order the immediate payment of their outstanding salary arrears and allowances from January 2018 till date, including the balance of the underpayment of 60 percent bench mark.
They equally demanded the full implementation of the old N18, 000 minimum wage for teachers in primary and junior secondary schools in the state .
They said that other civil servants in the state were already enjoying the minimum wage, and the demand was in the interest of fairness and justice.
“Government should promote hard work and dedication to duty by rewarding and motivating the teachers through prompt payment of 100 percent N18,000 minimum wage, leave allowances, promotion and annual salary incremental steps/rates with cash backing,” they said.
The group also called the attention of the governor to the acute shortage of staff in many primary and junior secondary schools in the state.
It said that the problem largely arose as a result of a staff screening exercise carried out by government in 2016 which they said reduced the staff strength in the sector to 16,419 from 23, 466.
While calling for the filling of the vacant positions, they also demanded provision of infrastructure that will aid quality teaching and learning in the schools.
“Teachers should be given the needed opportunity to undergo in-service training and professional workshops to enhance capability and efficiency,’’ the letter stated.
