In light of the recent industrial action by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) is pleading with the Federal Government to expeditiously release the eight-month pay that are due to them. In addition, the union is urging all levels of government to stop talking points and actually deal with problems in the field of education, from elementary to university.
This appeal was made by NUT National Secretary General Dr. Mike Ene in a special interview with the Nigerian Tribune.
He argues that the ASUU members had no choice but to take industrial action during that period, and that the federal government could not respond as though they simply woke up and decided to press their demands.
He pleaded with the federal government not to impose any restrictions on the release of university teachers’ salaries, claiming that Nigeria cannot be an exception to the global labor law that completely ignores the no work, no pay policy.
“Teachers deserve a decent life,” stated Ene, who also urged all state governments who still owe their primary and secondary school teachers several months’ salaries to make good on their debt by the end of 2023.
He contends that since most families in the nation can no longer afford the prices of goods and services, teachers who earn modest salaries shouldn’t be refused payment once more.
He argued that it is absolutely disturbing and uncalled for that the government is only quick to enter into an agreement and sign it when it actually knows it would not honour such an agreement.
He predicted that the political elite’s and government’s attitudes would continue to impede the nation’s advancement.
According to him, the education sector should receive top priority funding from all levels of government and any negative impact on it will undoubtedly have an impact on all other economic sectors.
“For this reason, we’re pleading with the government at all levels to take accountability and adequately fund education in the upcoming year,” he stated.
Ene revealed, however, that just roughly 1,000 public school teachers are being replaced by the government, with up to 6,000 of them set to retire from active employment at the end of this year.
He said that before taking significant action to replace the teachers in Nigeria’s public schools, the government shouldn’t wait for the dire consequences of the country’s severe teacher shortage to overwhelm it.
