2023 World Teachers Day; NUT raises alarm over Mass Exodus Of Teachers From Niger.
The Governor of Niger state Mohammed Umaru Bago has appreciated the role of teachers in nation building and assures that his administration will continue to improve the well-being of teachers in Niger state for them to see teaching as a noble profession.
The Governor who was represented at the occasion of 2023 world teachers Day celebration which took place at the Comrade Labaran Garba Multi purpose Conference Centre, at NUT wing Secretariat, Tungagoro in Minna Thursday by his Deputy,Comrade Yakubu Garba noted with dismay the suffering teachers in Niger state as pathetic.
The Governor reiterate the commitment of the present administration to provide qualify education for all as well as promotion of free and compulsory primary education in the state.
In his goodwill message at the occasion,the Speaker, Niger state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkin daji has said that the only way to improve the standard of education in the country is for government at all levels to give priority to the welfare of Teachers in our various level of education.
The Speaker said the narratives of Teachers reward is in heaven has greatly affected the standard of education, adding that let us give Teachers their reward on earth for the good of our education .
He pointed out that rather than paying lip-service to the welfare of Teachers in the country, government should be genuinely committed towards addressing the welfare, stressing that if there is any day that should be celebrated apart from Independence day is world Teachers day .
While commending the Nigerian Teachers for their sacrifices in the face of challenges, the Speaker assured Teachers that the Niger State House of Assembly will come up with legislations with a view to review our old Education laws in other to improve the quality of Education in the State, stressing that the law will concentrate on the areas that affects the welfare of teachers.
Earlier in his speech the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Adamu Mohammed Akayago pointed out that 10 years after the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) approved the Teachers Salary Structure for teachers across the country only 8% and 2% have been implemented for professional and non professional teachers in the state, adding that the N30,000 minimum wage has also not been fully and properly implemented for secondary school teachers as agreed with organized labour.
According to the Chairman these and others have contributed to the Mass Exodus of teachers from the state adding that Teachers deserve special palliative package arising from the present most challenging working economic situation in the country.
The NUT chairman however commended teachers in the state for keeping their heads high even in the face of all odds.
The Niger state government at the occasion donated some text books and other teaching materials to all the zonal education authorities in the state.
