Niger Pays N4bn Counterpart Fund, NUT Decries Teachers’ Exodus

Niger State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has lamented the exodus of teachers from the profession even as the state government said it paid N4 billion to development partners for education-related projects.

The state chairman of the union, Comrade Akayago Adamu Mohammed, who spoke yesterday in Minna, the state capital at an event to mark the World Teachers’ Day, revealed that the teachers had taken to other professions because their welfare had been neglected.

He said poor remuneration, lack of adequate welfare and teaching materials for teachers as well as decayed educational infrastructure had forced teachers to seek for other jobs.

Akayago stated that the situation was made more pathetic as governments at all levels refused to implement Teachers Salary Scale Structure (TSS).

He said 10 years after the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) approved the Teachers Salary Structure for teachers across the country only eight percent and two percent have been implemented for professional and non-professional teachers in the state.

Niger State governor Mohammed Umaru Bago who was represented by his deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, said the government has paid N4 billion counterpart funds to development partners and donor agencies.

He disclosed that physical drawdowns will soon commence and therefore advised the stakeholders to make judicious use of the funds to justify the huge investments.