Delta Government Committed To Prompt Payment Of Primary School Teachers’ Salaries --- SUBEB

Teachers in Delta State Thursday embarked on an indefinite strike over unpaid salaries, Mr Joe Iyalekhue, the branch Secretary in the state of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has said.

Iyalekhue said in Asaba that a written order was issued to all teachers in the state to embark on an indefinite strike until the government met NUT demands.

“All teachers in the state primary and secondary schools are to proceed on an indefinite strike with effect from Thursday, March 9, until our demands are met.”

He said that the NUT had expressed dismay over the way the state government and its agencies were handling issues affecting teachers and the education sector in the state.

The NUT scribe said that the lingering issues over which the union embarked on the strike included the non-payment of monthly salaries to primary school teachers as at when due.

“Others are wilful downgrading of teachers and non-payment of minimum wage arrears of primary school teachers.

The teachers are also protesting the non-payment of CONPSS arrears May/June 2015, illegal deduction of teachers’ salaries and the non-implementation of inter cadre transfer of teachers in PPEB.

“Non-implementation of teachers’ promotions by PPEB and SUBEB, non-payment of promotion arrears of primary and secondary school teachers and non-payment of retired teachers’ benefits,” he said.

He said that teachers were advised to await further instructions over the industrial action.

Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Sunny Ogwu, has expressed the State Government's commitment towards ensuring prompt payment of primary school teachers’ salaries and providing educational growth and development in the State.

Hon. Ogwu made the statement while responding to the publication on page 13 of the Pointer Newspaper of March 13th, 2017.

Salaries of primary school teachers have been paid up to November, 2016 while December 2016 salary is ready for payment.

On alleged wilful down-grading of teachers, NUT in a meeting at the instance of the Head of Service on January 26th, 2017 applauded the ALGON and the Office of the Head of Service that all primary school teachers irregularly/inappropriately placed should on conversion, be brought down by two (2) salary grade levels only. It was also agreed that all teachers promoted including 2016 promotions should be effected before the adjustment of salary grade levels without refunds to government. (Those affected are staff with higher certificates but accepted a lower grade level with a lower certificate at the point of entry).

The Executive Chairman further stated that all promotions including 2016 have been issued and would be effected in January, 2017 salary.