Group Faults Imposition Of N7,000 Fee For Teachers’ Promotion

A group, the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), has faulted the decision of the Oyo State government to impose ₦7,000 fee on newly recruited teachers for confirmation examinations and on serving teachers for promotion examinations.

The state’s coordinator of CDWR, Bamigboye Abiodun said on Friday in Ibadan that the policy was nothing but an act of blatant extortion and a further demonstration of the state government’s entrenched anti-worker labour practices.

According to the group, the Public Service Rules are explicit and leave no room for ambiguity.

“Confirmation of newly recruited workers is automatic after three years of satisfactory service and does not require any examination or payment.

“Likewise, promotion examinations, where applicable, are to be organised and fully funded by the government. By shifting this financial burden onto teachers, the Oyo State government has acted in clear violation of established public service regulations and has betrayed the trust and welfare of its workforce.

“Even more disturbing is the disgraceful and openly anti-worker role played by the Oyo State leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

“Instead of defending teachers against this illegal imposition, the NUT leadership descended to the shameful level of issuing a public statement directing teachers to pay the imposed fees.

“In doing so, the union leadership falsely attempted to justify the extortion by creating the misleading impression that it is the responsibility of teachers to bear the cost of conducting confirmation and promotion examinations.

“This position is not only false but also represents a complete abandonment of the union’s historic role as a defender of workers’ rights.

“At a time when teachers are already grappling with poor wages, rising living costs, and deteriorating working conditions, the NUT leadership chose an unholy collaboration with the government over resistance.

“Rather than mobilising teachers, building a statewide campaign, and leading collective opposition against this obnoxious and illegal fee, the NUT leadership has instead acted as an enforcer of government policy against its own members,” it said.

The CDWR held that this and active endorsement of exploitation by the NUT leadership amounts to complicity, saying “We therefore demand that the Oyo State NUT leadership immediately withdraw its directive compelling teachers to pay these fees and take concrete steps to organise resistance against this unjust policy.

While noting that the cost of conducting examinations and training workers remains the sole responsibility of the state government, it said, “We demand the immediate refund of the ₦7,000 already extorted from teachers and call on all teachers who are yet to pay to collectively resist this imposition.”

It called on the Oyo state leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the NUT to build a broad public and workers’ campaign across Oyo State to challenge this illegal policy, expose anti-worker practices, and defend the rights of teachers and other public sector workers.