The Nigeria Union of Teachers disclosed, yesterday, that 13 state governments were still owing primary and secondary school teachers various months of salary arrears.

The union’s acting Secretary-General, Dr Mike Ike-Ene, told the News Agency of Nigeria, in Abuja, that previously, 19 states owed, but some states have paid except 13.

Ike-Ene said the states owing are Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Abia, Kogi, Benue, Zamfara, Taraba, Plateau, Osun, Benue and Bayelsa states, among others. He added that Benue owes heavily, as it is the worst. Ike-Ene, explained that the union expected the affected states to use the window of the long vacation to pay teachers, but, only few states like Anambra and Akwa-Ibom, among others, complied.

“It may interest you to know that few weeks back, at Ibadan, Oyo State, we re-appraised the way our teachers are being owed; about 19 states visibly owed our teachers various forms of money, Ranging from salaries to gratuity for many months; some two months to one year and about 28 states are paying salaries in percentages. We requested government to use the window of the long vacation to pay these teachers. But, it might surprise you to know that states like Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Kano  collected N10 billion Paris Club Debt refund each, including others. Yet, some of the states could not use this money to offset teachers’ outstanding salary arrears,’’ he said.

Related News

Ike-Ene commended the teachers for their perseverance and urged them to continue to do their best.

“I just want to use this medium to thank all our teachers in primary and secondary schools, throughout the period, and further encourage them to do continue to do their best .’’

He also appealed to the state governments to pay the outstanding salary arrears, and added that if every effort to settle peacefully fails, the union would have no option than embark on industrial action.