NUT Calls for Constitutional Amendment on Prompt Payment of Teachers’ Salary

Hammed Shittu

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on members of the National Assembly to commence immediate constitutional amendment that will allow the state government to handle the payment of teachers’ salary so as to improve the quality and standard of education in the country.

The union said the continued handling of the payment of teachers’ salaries by the 774 local government councils in the country would not move education forward in the country.

The Kwara State Secretary of the union, Ola Idris, who made the call in Ilorin while speaking on the state of education in the country, said “the continued undertaking of payment of teachers’ salary under the watch of local government councils nationwide has affected the quality and standard of education in the country.”

He said most often than not, funds meant for teachers’ salary has been allegedly mismanaged by the appropriate authorities at the local government councils level which hitherto has affected the prompt payment of salaries.

“Teachers remain a major tool for the provision of quality and standard education hence they should be accorded priority in the payment of their dues so as to ginger them to be up and doing towards the growth of education.”

He stressed that “a teacher that is not paid as and when due will not be willing to teach students with full commitment and this may have serious effect on the students at the end of the day especially in their results.”

Idris noted that teachers’ motivation through the payment of their salaries without any delay would boost their morale and this would improve the quality of education of the students.

He therefore said the only way to achieve the gesture is to ensure the transfer of the payment of teachers’ salaries to the state government so as to bring about the educational advancement of the country.