... lament ill treatment, call on Oborevwori to intervene
…Okotie confirm agreement for ID card, say payment of arrears ongoing, applaud Oborevwori, others
Primary school teachers in rich oil producing Delta state, have decided what they termed oppressive and illegal deduction of N5, 000 each from their salaries for the production of Identity Cards by the executives of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Delta State Wing.
Reacting to a circular obtained by this medium and signed by one Dan Basime, State Secretary, NUT Delta State Wing, dated September 26, 2024, and addressed to the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission with the titled, “Production of Identity Card For Primary School Teachers” reads;
“I am directed by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Delta State Wing, to officially inform you to commence production of identity card (ID), for Primary School Teachers as well as the staff of the Local Government Education Authority as discussed.
“I am to also add that the cost of producing of the ID be deducted twice from their salaries at source”.
The Teachers who spoke to Southernvoicenews.com said, it is unfair for the Executives of the Union to deduct N5,000 from each teacher in Delta State for an Identity card at this moment when the economy is biting.
“What is the cost of producing Identity Card especially when you are mass producing and why are they always tempering the primary school teachers salaries at will?
“Why were they elected to oversee the activities of the teachers? Why is the primary school teachers are always their targets in all their policies? Were they elected to extort and punish us or to work for our interest, they queried”.
The teachers in their numbers accused the executives of the state NUT lamenting the ill treatment directed always at the primary school teachers contrary to treatment of their counterparts in the Secondary school.
They lamented the deliberate delay of the promised arrears to be paid teachers by the state government, saying it is as a result of alleged manipulation of how their monies can be deducted for frivolous purposes.
“Our Secondary school counterparts have been paid and they were paid completely, why is ours different, they asked”.
In another circular dated October 16, 2024, addressed to Chairmen of Local Governments, HPM’s and TLG’s with the title; ” PRODUCTION OF IDENTITY CARDS FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHING AND NON-TEACHING STAFF OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT EDUCATION AUTHORITY “, States;
“I am directed to refer to the above subject and to notify you of the request letter dated 26th September, 2024, with reference number NUT/DSW/ 004/Vol. 7/88, from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Delta State Wing, which issued a directive to carry out the production of identity card (ID) to all staff of the Local Education Authority.
“Furthermore I wish to convey to the Local Government Service Commissions approval to kick-start a two phase installment deduction of the sum of Five Thousand Naira (N5,000) from their salaries at source.
“Phase one, a sum of N2,500 be deducted in October 2024, why the phase two deduction should be made in November 2024 respectively for the deduction.”
The teachers who were visibly sad and angered by the development, called on the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori to wade in and stop what they described as obnoxious policies and oppressive methods of extortion from teachers.
‘We are sick and tired of illegal and oppressive deduction by the NUT Executive led by Comr. T.O Okotie. He and his executives are only concerned about their Secondary school teachers welfares.”
Some teachers who spoke to journalists at Asaba the state capital, alleged that the arrears which is to be paid to the primary school teachers has been delayed because, those elected to oversee the activities of the union are working round the clock to cut down what is due to the primary school teachers.
They also alleged that some of the executives in the local governments have already received their arrears in full along with their loved ones and their wives and relatives, while others arrears is been delayed because they want to knifed it for their selfish reasons.
An unconfirmed report however revealed that one of the official of NUT in one of the local governments councils have been paid alongside his wife who is also a primary school teacher since last week fully while others alleged that all their monies has been slashed by the NUT authority in the state.
The called on well meaning individuals and people with value to the primary education to come to their aid to prevail against the illegal deduction at source, stating that the salary is not even enough to service their families, let alone deducting unnecessarily from their meagre salaries and arrears.
Okotie Confirm Agreement For ID Cards, Says Payment Of Arrears Ongoing, Applauds Oborevwori, Others
Contacted, the State Chairman of NUT, Mr. Titus Okolie, said: “yes, that is the decision of the leadership.
“But unfortunately, the matter started since 2018, so, as at that time, I was with the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), under the leadership of Terry Igho, we are all aware, we agreed on the matter.
“But all of a sudden, we have been almost concluded, the contractor was to execute the job. We don’t do it. If course, it is the duty of our employer but they always carry the Union along which we agreed as at that time.
“But InfoTech, the consultant that ALGON used to clean off the payroll informed us then that well, producing ID Cards, is part of their contractual obligation. So, we felt relieved and we let the matter go like that.
“Until 2022, after InfoTech has handed over to Local Government Service Commission. So, at that time, they look at the picture at InfoTech ID Card, they felt they were not satisfied because very soon, they want to do another verification exercise.
“And there are certain information that they needed that are not in place. So, they would like to do another ID Card. At that point, they are agreed to plead, then, everybody agreed.
“So, when they told me the matter, I said I have not consulted with my people and of course, I cannot say yes to it. Before I knew, they have produced for local government staff in line with the requirements they want for the verification.
“So, since 2023, the it has been on. I fact, the council workers have done their own since 2023. We have to postpone our own till now, moreso when they have employed new teachers. So, teachers cannot be moving without ID Cards.
“And the council will soon screen. It is the council that pays our salaries (primary school teachers salaries). So, if they want to screen, what do we present as ID Card and ID Card is one of the criteria. These are some of the details known to the leadership. So, who misled our followers? He asked.
Clearing the air further, Mr. Okotie, said: “we don’t print ID Cards but they consulted us and agreed that they should print it after due consultation with my members”.
On the payment of arrears, the NUT Chairman said: “It is a very simple matter (laughs), this matter just like I told you, it is not a new matter, we have been pursuing it all along and graciously, when the new government came, we presented the matter again, and His Excellency, graciously approved it that it should be paid but that it should be compiled.
“These are records that are scattered and it is local government by local government. At this point, I must praise the Auditor General of the Local Government for his wonderful effort towards to ensure that more teachers were accommodated.
“If not, based on the records that is available, many people would have been jumped but as it is now, there are different categories; those who have their promotion letters well documented and those whose names were on the list, the man captured everything.
*For those who have everything, they must take time, the approval has been given. Okpe, has paid. Isoko south, with the information before me, has started paying this morning.
“The Local Government Service Commission, wanted a detailed record of the payment. Not that they pasted some people and they cannot account for the rest. You must bring the particulars of the people they want to pay, the phone number.
“Don’t forget, some of these teachers have retired, they need to inform them and if their names are there, they will inform them, ring them to come and do the necessary documentation before payment, you don’t just pay like that and at the end be telling people stories.
“So, the Local Government Service Commission is monitoring the payment to the best of their ability, that I am aware of. So, before the end of this week, majority of them must have paid, they money is intact in different local governments.
“In summary, teachers want ID Cards, we requested for ID Cards. You don’t expect me to deny that. I think the error I committed is to have included the Non-Academic Staff because they have their Union.
“Though, I discussed with their leadership but if they feel they don’t want, they are free to opt out but my teachers need ID Cards”.
He charged the teachers to reciprocate the magnanimity of the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Oborevwori, for approving the payment of the promotion arrears since 2016, till 2022.
“It is not a small feat. So, we should encourage his Excellency and of course, by rededicating ourselves to his service. I know it has been a problem all along but we thank God, that we have a listening governor who really took time, in fact, as at the time they were about to pay, when we presented the matter, the estimate given was about N500 million.
“But His Excellency, said the Accountant General should look into it critically and make sure that nobody is denied and nobody’s name is committed. So, base on that the Auditor General of the local government had to do his job and they ended up with over N800 million for approval and the governor has approved it.
He stressed that they should be very meticulous in the payment so as the money would not enter into wrong hands, saying that “we don’t want to hear stories after the payments, it is better than to say some persons were committed.
He assured that if for any reason “you are not captured, we will trace it base on the available records. There are different sections that the Auditor General placed them that by the time you have evidence and it is confirmed that you are a beneficiary, of course, your money will be released to you”, Okotie said emphatically.
