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The Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has heaped praises on the state government for showing concern about the welfare of teachers in the state, including the extension of the state’s minimum wage to primary school teachers after several years of waiting.
The teachers also pointed out that Governor Peter Mbah’s administration had, in about nine months in office, met four of the five-point demand that the union had presented to him on assumption of office last year.
The union, which also dismissed a purported plan by some mischief-makers to incite teachers’ protest, added that there is no basis whatsoever for such, as Governor Mbah had wiped away their tears and restored hope in time of economic crisis.
Chairman of the Enugu State NUT, Comrade Theophilus Nweke, stated this while briefing journalists in Enugu on Tuesday, saying Governor Mbah had demonstrated readiness to wipe away the tears of the teachers by not only paying wage awards to teachers in addition to their salaries since December 2023, but also resolving the three-year minimum wage faceoff with previous administration.
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“When the current administration came in, we met and presented our challenges to the governor, who promised to address them.
“True to his word, the governor set up a committee to look into the issue and on November 10, 2023, the committee submitted its report in which it was recommended that the teachers be paid.
“On February 19, the governor called the leadership of NUT and conveyed his approval for the full implementation of the minimum wage. When the February salary came in, the teachers were paid as approved and this was greeted with wide jubilation which you saw on social media.
“This administration has demonstrated its commitment to our welfare, thus why should we embark on any protest? Does that make any sense to anyone? What exactly should be the reason for the protest?
“As a union, we have laid down procedures of pressing home our demands and we have judiciously followed them. These approaches are yielding the required results. Calling for outright protest has never been part of it and we won’t promote such.
“The five-point request we made to the governor is receiving adequate attention. Four have already been implemented and the fifth one is underway,” the chairman said.
He called on the teachers to reciprocate the governor’s gestures through dedication to their duties and not render themselves as willing tools to mischief-makers or any group seeking cheap popularity.
