NUT Orders Teachers Back To School …Demands Payment Of Salary Arrears

The Rivers State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), has called on the State Government to expedite action in the payment of salaries owed its members.
Rising from a meeting yesterday, the SWEC, in a communiqué, stated that it will call on its members to resume work from the 14th of September.
However, the NUT said that if the State Government does not pay what it called “the backlog of salaries” owed its members, it will recall them from the classrooms.
“After due considerations, the trust the union has on the Government of Rivers State, and for the interest of our younger generation, the union hereby urges teachers to resume schools by 14th September, 2016”, the communiqué said.
It appealed that the government should as much as possible clear the backlog of salaries from February to August, 2016 owed teachers of Rivers State.
“That if the backlog of salaries owed to teachers is not cleared from today, Thursday, 8th of September, to the 8th of October 2016, the union will have no other option than to call the teachers out of the classrooms”, the communiqué stated.
The communiqué expressed worry that promotions of the teachers have not been implemented, adding that “promotion interviews conducted are not released and promotion interviews yet to be conducted”.
According to the communiqué, promotions interviews carried out by the Universal Basic Education (SUBE) Board in 2010, 1011 and 2012 have not been implemented.
The NUT further noted that the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board (SSSB) promotion interviews conducted for 2009 and 2010 have also not been implemented.
It also listed the promotions not released by the SSSB to include that of 2011, 2012, and 2013, while promotions not conducted are 2013, 2014 and 2015 (SUBE), and 2014 (SSSB).
Earlier, the SWEC had commended the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike and the relevant agencies for their interventions on the pitiable plight of teachers in the state.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Professor Kaniye Ebeku, in a meeting with the executives of NUT, assured that dialogue was ongoing concerning the payment of their salaries.
He further stated that the Rivers State Government was committed to the welfare of teachers in the state.
“The Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration is a responsible government, and undoubtedly committed to the welfare of its workers”, the Education boss stated.

Sogbeba Dokubo