Scores of teachers and staffers of the State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB) went into jubilation on Monday following the approval of the implementation of their promotion arrears by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The action is coming after several years of career stagnation for the affected workers.
The chairman of SUBEB, Prof Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, made the announcement during the commissioning of operational vehicles, motorcycles, electronic gadgets, and instructional materials for basic schools in the state.
Public basic school teachers in Kwara State were last promoted in 2017.
According to Adaramaja, “Conduct of years 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 promotion examination and oral interview has been expressly approved by His Excellency to hold between the 2nd and 5th August, 2021.
“Outstanding salary arrears of staff is also not left out as the process is at its peak. We say a big thank you to His Excellency for considering the plight of our staff and finding a solution to their agitation,” he added.
AbdulRazaq, who was represented by Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, said the administration has unlocked the goldmine of opportunities to revitalise basic education in the state with the renewed relationship with the Universal Basic Education Commission after seven years of official blacklist of Kwara.
“Except for the 12-seater bus which has been donated to us by Unity Bank Plc, all these facilities are some of the gains of our renewed relationship with the Universal Basic Education Commission.”
“These tools will not only improve the standard of basic education in the state, they will also provide an enabling environment for adequate monitoring and supervision of teaching and learning activities across our schools.
“On August 5, we will bring stakeholders together to a summit to evolve a holistic strategy for the future of our education sector”, he noted.
The state NUT chairman, Comrade Olu Adewara, while commending the Governor for his interest in promoting the welfare of teachers and development of education sector in the state pleaded for the payment of outstanding salary arrears.
“The beauty of this is that these promotion exercises (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020), going by the good understanding we have with the government, will come with cashbacking.”
“We want to plead with His Excellency to further look at our direction and clear salary arrears of about three months and 43%”, he added.
The items commissioned include one 18 p-seater bus, five 2020 Model Hilux Van, 45 Bajaj motorcycles, 40 Samsung galaxy tab, 10 sets of computer systems, 20 digital calipers, instructional materials, library books and shelves, among others.
