Edo State Union of Teachers and the State government is heading for a showdown over plans to remove teachers allowances, NAIJA CENTER NEWS has learnt.
The new development is due to Local Government current financial indebtedness which has led to the government inability to pay teachers January salaries
LGAs are responsible for Primary school teacher’s salaries, and all LG in Edo State are currently heavily indebted.
It is known that teachers salaries are normally deducted from the state/LG joint account by the state government at source and the balance sent to the LGA for payment of staff and development.
NAIJA CENTER NEWS gathered that some Local Government are owing their workers up to eight months of unpaid salaries. These Chairmen who have been operating on loans held a meeting and resolved as follows:
- There will be no more yearly incremental credit. (The added yearly cash to workers salaries)
- No more leave Transport Grant (money paid when workers are going on leave)
- Stagnation in promotion to be effected immediately.
The reason for this was to enable them recoup money saved from the above to alleviate their financial burden.
They presented these demands to the State government who in turn invited the leadership of the NUT for a meeting.
NAIJA CENTER NEWS gathered that the decision was presented at the meeting and they flatly rejected it.
They opined that theirs allowances cannot be for payment of debts, and they were never informed before they took loans.
They expressed anger that workers who were recruited in 2012 and implemented in 2014 have not been promoted; therefore their allowances cannot be removed.
Speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS, the NUT Chairman, Comrade Mike Osaguoduwa Uhuangho said “The state government said that no leave transport grant and no incremental credit and we have to react, that it is our right. If other workers are getting it, the workers from the primary school sector should also get it.
“For a man who you have not been promoted for five years, and you are now saying the incremental credit and leave transport is no more, is up for questioning.
“IF the state government decided to carry out its threat, the NUT will definitely meet with the mother body which is the NLC on what need to be done.
“For now we are not intending to go on strike. We believe that the state government have been trying for the teachers. We first want to go on dialogue before anything. The idea of removing incremental credit and leave transport is a threat that we will resist in all ramifications.
“The government did not inform the union on the reasons behind its action but for now, we tend to ask the government why is it only the teachers that would not be paid the leave transport and incremental credit.
“If the state government is saying they are in a financial mess, they did not inform the union. If other sectors in the state are getting their salaries, is it the primary school teachers who is still buying from the same market will be affected?
“We know that the state and local government have a joint account and they have to pay”.
Similarly, the SUBEB Chairman confirmed the development but alleged that he is currently in Abuja and promised to respond on the issue as soon as he returned to Benin.
He said: “I also heard the rumour but i am away from now. I will be back by next week and i will respond properly”
Edo Teachers, Governement Set For Showdown Over Plans to Remove Allowances
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