Teachers salaries is state/federal government responsibility- Edo NUT

Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) have expressed worry over proposed plan to transfer the payment of teachers’ salaries from state to local governments believing that it will jeopardize smooth payment of salaries in the state.

The Union led by its state chairman, Iyalomhe Akhagbeme hereby called on Edo State House of Assembly to reject any bill or amendment that sought to transfer the payment of primary school teachers’ salaries to local council in its proposed consideration of the bill on local government autonomy.

The teachers who were mainly state and local government executives of NUT from the 18 local government areas of Edo State assembled at King Square in Benin City on Wednesday, and went on a protest march to the Assembly complex to make their appeal.

While expressing their emotions, the teachers numbering about one hundred carried placards with inscriptions such as “Save Primary Education from Imminent Collapse”, “Funding of Primary Education is the Joint Responsibility of State and Federal Government”, “We are not against Local Government Autonomy” and “Primary Education is the bedrock for every educational development”

Akhagbeme stated “Transferring the payment of teachers’ salaries from state to local government will jeopardize smooth payment of teachers’ in our dear state. We teachers do not oppose to local government autonomy, but the funding of education should remain the primary reasonability of both state and federal government.”

However, receiving the teachers on behalf of the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly, the public relations officer of the Assembly, Dayo Erimiakhena told the protesters that none of the lawmakers was around to receive them as they had adjourned sitting a day before their visit, but that the teachers’ message was clearly understood, as he hereby promised to communicate their message to the leadership of the house when they resume.