BENIN CITY – The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Edo State wing has refuted the claim that Edo State government unlawful tampering with Local Government fund to pay salaries of Primary School teachers is responsible for their inability to meet their salary obligation to local government staff.
A statement signed by Mike Osagioduwa Uhunmwangho and Akin Adeojo, NUT State Chairman and Secretary respectively described the claim as misconception.
According to the statement, “It has remained an age long lawful practice in virtually all the states of the federation that as part of the participatory roles of local government councils in the funding of primary education, the state governments through the joint state and local government accounts make first line deductions for the payment of primary school teachers salaries in Nigeria Edo State inclusive, before the balances are remitted to the councils.”
The present practices in Edo State, the statement indicated is not the making of the present government in the state, “as the agitators would want the public to believe.”
The present administration, the statement added, “upheld the practice because they fund it to be lawful and serves as the best approach to ensuring stability in the education sector where the government has invested huge financial resources for the good of all.
“The NUT, Edo State Wing remains grateful to the comrade governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for his doggedness and strong belief in upholding the laws of the land as well as allowing continuous stability in the education sector in Edo State.”
The statement also urged the NUT members to redouble their efforts in the discharge of their duties to serve as additional motivation to the governor for all his support to teachers in the state.
