NUT demands recruitment of more teachers

The Niger state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers has presented an 11-point agenda to the state government to implement or risk an industrial action.

The union made the presentation during an interface meeting with the Commissioner for Education, Hajia Hannatu J. Salihu to resolve areas of differences.

The Commissioner received the officials of  the union who paid her a courtesy call with a view to fashion out ways to meet their demands as contained in the 21-day ultimatum given to the government.

The State Chairman of NUT, Comrade Ibrahim Umar, who led his team informed the commissioner that the purpose of the visit was in respect of the 11-point demands earlier outlined in the communique issued as well as the 21 day ultimatum given to the state government.

The Secretary of the Union, Comrade Labaran Garba who presented the demands, amongst which were the recruitment of more teachers in schools as well as security guards and cooks in boarding secondary schools in the state.

The union also demanded the ministry to compel a non-governmental organization  to complete the supply of Z- Pads.

Other demands include the complete payment of newly recruited primary school teachers’ salaries, payment of primary teachers July salary, the stoppage of withdrawal of primary school teachers in Junior Secondary Schools by NSUBEB, the implementation of N30,000 minimum wage to primary school teachers, refund of 10 percent salary deducted from the teachers’ salaries, payment of 30 percent cut down salaries of some secondary school teachers among others.

In her response, the commissioner welcomed the officials and thanked them for always communicating with the ministry on the issues and challenges faced by teachers in the State.

Salihu appealed to the union to be patient and put a hold to the 21-day ultimatum given  to the government, assuring that the ministry was already looking into their demands.

She further  informed the union of the planned staff audit by the ministry  with relevant stakeholders with a view to establishing the exact workforce and identify the gaps there in and subsequently developing effective employment strategies that will help towards meeting the demand of the union in the provision of all inclusive quality education.