The Basic Education Teachers Association of Nigeria (BESAN) has called on Kogi state government to stop the payment of percentage salaries to teachers in the state.
In an open letter sent the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, BESAN explained that monthly payment of 35 per cent salary to its members from January till date is disheartening and an aberration in the history of education in the state.
The open letter signed by the state Chairman and Secretary of BESAN, Mr Onotu Yahaya and Mr Tope Akinlabi respectively was made available to newsmen in Lokoja on Monday.
According to them, the 35 per cent monthly salary payment to teachers also violated the governor’s earlier directive on 60 per cent monthly salary payment to teachers in the sector.
They called on the governor to order the immediate payment of their outstanding salary arrears and allowances from January 2018 till date, including the balance of the underpayment of 60 per cent bench mark.
They also demanded the full implementation of the old N18, 000 minimum wage for teachers in primary and junior secondary schools in Kogi State.
The letter dated Nov. 25 said it was demanding for the implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage to arrest the dwindling fortunes of basic education in the state.
The BESAN, which is an umbrella body of teachers in primary and junior secondary schools in the state, said that other civil servants in the state are already enjoying the minimum wage, saying its demand for teachers in basic education sector is in the interest of fairness and justice.
“Government should promote hardwork and dedication to duty by rewarding and motivating the teachers through prompt payment of 100 per cent N18,000 minimum wage, leave allowances, promotion and annual salary incremental steps/rates with cash backing,” they said.
The group also called the attention of the governor to the problem of acute shortage of staff in many primary and junior secondary schools in the state.
It said that the problem largely arose as a result of a staff screening exercise carried out by government in 2016 which they said reduced the staff strength in the sector to 16,419 from 23, 466.
While calling for the filling of the vacant teaching positions, they also demanded infrastructure that will aid quality teaching and learning in the schools.
“Teachers should be given the needed opportunity to undergo in-service training and professional workshops to enhance capability and efficiency,” the letter stated.
