Education
Rivers Teachers To Get Leave Bonus, Promotion Arrears
The Rivers State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) says the 2007 leave allowance for teachers of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) will be paid soon.
Chairman, NUT, Rivers State Wing Chief Moses Adiela who stated this in a chat win The Tide yesterday said in addition to the 2007 leave allowance, the payment of promotion arrears of teachers in junior secondary school will also take place as soon as possible.
Chief Adiela explained that the payment of teachers leave bonus and promotion arrears will be paid when necessary documentation has been put in place.
‘We are mapping out modalities to differentiate teachers from junior secondary schools and UBE so that there will be no duplication of payment, he said.
He continued, “as soon as we have streamlined every thing, teachers will be paid accordingly,” he said.
The NUT boss said such payments became necessary when stakeholders in the education sector met with the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi to dialoque on the payment of Teachers Salary Structure (TSS), Promotion arrears and 2007 leave allowance of teachers in Rivers State.
He told The Tide that the arrears of payment that have not actually been concluded are payment of impress to School Principals, Head Teachers, and also the payment of Rural and Duty Post allowances for teachers.
In the area of the TSS, Adiela said “we have agreed to meet today to finalise the issue.
“Our National body during the last delegates conference in June 2010 has directed Rivers and Oyo states to dialoque with their Governors on the payment of TSS and other arrears adding that if the outcome of the meeting is not favourable, the teachers of these states should embark on immediate strike.”
“All other states have implemented the TSS, only Rivers and Oyo are left out.
Adiela however, advised teachers to exercise patience and go about their normal business saying that the state government is coming up with something positive.
Sogbeba Dokubo
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.