Abia calls on teachers to return to classroom

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

Abia Government has called on members of the state chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to avoid being used by political detractors and return to class immediately.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu,  in Umuahia, yesterday, primary and junior secondary school teachers have received up to November 2020 salary with only December outstanding. He also said the state government paid three months salary to secondary school teachers in December 2020 as part of efforts to clear backlogs owed them with a promise to pay at least another two months in January 2021.

Okiyi urged members of NUT to avoid being used by political detractors who, according to him, were looking for where to anchor after being silenced by efforts of government to boost the infrastructure stock of the state with over 62 additional completed and ongoing road projects.

He expressed surprise that after successful negotiations with the local and national leaders of the NUT, the teachers were yet to return to the classroom.

“We call on our teachers to show patriotism by reciprocating the efforts of government to improve our public education system in the state which has seen our public school enrolment rise from about 150,000 in 2015 to 650,000 pupils with the state maintaining first position, back to back, for four years in West Africa School Certificate Examinations.

“Our teachers must avoid being used as willing tools to depopulate public schools in favor of private schools thereby reversing the gains of the past 5 year as government will most likely be compelled to move the resources earmarked for teachers in January to other areas of need if they fail to return to classroom as agreed.

“At a time the nation is still reeling from the effects of the pandemic and the EndSARS protests, with the attendant economic challenges and closure of schools for more than six months, the state government showed faith with teachers and other workers by ensuring that while workers in our Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) who make up more than 70 per cent of our state’s workforce are up to date with salary payment, distressed parastatals were also heavily supported to ensure that they pay workers in the crucial month of December with a going forward plan clearly defined.”