From Tom Garba, Yola
Chairman, Adamawa State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr Rodney Nathan, has said that the state of emergency declared in the education sector by the Adamawa State Governor, Jibrillah Bindow, has no any positive impact on the state since its imposition.
Nathan spoke at the office of Adamawa State Universal Basic Education in Yola during a data capture exercise of some teachers in the state who have not being in the e-payment scheme of the state.
But according to him the declaration came at the right time as there are many problems created by the past administrations most especially in the primary schools to the extent that teaching facilities are nothing to write home about, and teachers’ salaries, promotion, pension and gratuity for several months and years have not been paid.
He stated that although the current government under the leadership of Governor Bindow has good intentions, it appears to lack the zeal and the focus to act, as there are no serious signs in pursuing it to the letter.
He called on the government to take action in line with the declared state of emergency.
Rodney said: “After the declaration we were thinking much attention will be given to the education sector as in other sector like road, but to be honest with you we have not felt the impact of the state of emergency put in place by the governor.
“What we are seeing and are expecting after the declaration is not the same. With the declaration we are still having outstanding salaries arrears, we are still having leave transport grand arrears for five years, we’re still having dilapidated classrooms. We are still having hanging promotions and still having pupils being taught under trees.”
He continued: “We thought was that the first approach would be to invite the NUT since the union stands for teachers. We were even thinking we will be asked to submit a proposal to know our opinion on what the government should do in the state of emergency declared. We are now following the trend to see how it goes”
He stressed that the government should have first of taken care of the teacher’s needs as there cannot be a proper state of emergency without taking care of those holding the affairs of that organisation, that is teachers.
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