Rejoinder to false Narratives Against the Current NUT Leadership in Niger State.
The recent attempt to paint the current leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Niger State as a “failed stewardship” is not only misleading but a grave injustice to a team that has shown uncommon resolve and earned the trust of teachers through verifiable achievements, particularly for the oft-neglected primary school teachers. Notable among others are:
1. Stoppage of Percentage Salary Payments
When others chose silence, the NUT leadership took a bold stance. Through the historic sit-at-home protest, the current NUT leadership defied all pressure to force the end of the dehumanizing percentage salary payments era. Primary school teachers receive full salaries because of this leadership’s unfiltered commitment to fairness and dignity.
2. Resolution of the Motorcycle Loan Crisis
The “motorcycle loan saga” was a ticking time bomb that this current NUT leadership also confronted head-on, *securing the weaving of the accrued interest burdens* on the affected teachers. That action has brought long-overdue financial relief to hundreds of primary school teachers.
3. Salary Harmonization Between Primary and Secondary Teachers
For years, primary school teachers were treated as second-class professionals. However, the cordiality this current NUT leadership maintained with organized labour ensured that they together championed the harmonization of salaries, ensuring that, since the advent of the current national minimum wage, “no teacher, regardless of school level, is left behind” in the salary structure. Equity is not just a slogan; it’s policy now.
4. Implementation of Domestic Servant Allowance
The union also pushed for the *implementation of Domestic Servant Allowance for teachers on Grade Level 15 and above*, a benefit that recognizes the immense workload at higher responsibility levels.
5. Decentralization of TRCN PQE Centers
Long-distance travel to headquarters for TRCN exams was an added burden on rural and primary school teachers. This leadership *facilitated the establishment of three new TRCN PQE centers in Bida, Suleja, and Kontagora*, directly benefiting grassroots teachers.
6. Advocacy on Promotions and Salary Stepping
While awaiting final approval from the government, *NUT has ensured that the NLC Screening Committee has prioritized primary school teachers* in its recommendations, specifically regarding annual salary stepping and implementation of long-delayed promotions. Advocacy is not silence; it is strategic engagement and is in motion.
7. Supporting Institutional Efficiency and Teacher Advancement
To address longstanding delays in teacher promotions across NSUBEB, NSSEB, and NSSTSB, the current leadership under Comrade Akayago has proactively supplied brand-new photocopier machines to these agencies. This logistical intervention directly tackled processing promotion bottlenecks, ensuring deserving teachers receive timely recognition and career progression.
8. Championing Salary Enhancements through Labour Synergy
The current NUT leadership engaged actively with Organized Labour to secure consequential adjustments linked to the ₦30,000 minimum wage. This resulted in tangible salary increases for teachers on Grade Level 06 and below and Consequential Adjustments for teachers at other higher levels—proof that strategic collaboration delivers real benefits to members.
9. Resolving Lingering Salary Arrears
Critics often overlook the unprecedented settlement of the October 2020 salary and percentage arrears achieved under this leadership. Through coordinated efforts with relevant stakeholders, teachers finally received overdue payments that were long considered lost causes.
10. Pursuit of the 7.5% Pension Refund
The allegation of inaction on 7.5% pension deductions is false. Repayments are *actively ongoing*, and the union has *pledged to pursue every refund until the last teacher is paid*. This is not dormancy; it is documented persistence.
These, among numerous milestone improvements, are reality, not fiction.
This leadership has not only spoken, but it has acted. With visible, measurable progress across welfare, wages, fairness, and professional growth, especially for the most underserved teachers, the current NUT leadership has shown what bold, people-first leadership looks like.
To portray them as disconnected or inactive is unfair and does a disservice to the evidence before us.
NUT Niger State Wing
