The Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, has called for the prompt implementation of the teachers’ professional salary structure in the country’s budget.
The National President of the union, Comrade Audu Amba, while speaking at the union’s 6th Annual Solemn Assembly on Monday in Abuja, explained that the salary structure ought to have been implemented since 2023.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, it said in commemoration of World Teachers Day on October 5, 2020, former President Muhammadu Buhari approved a special salary scale for teachers in the country.
Buhari also increased the number of years of service and retirement age of teachers from 35 to 40, and 60 to 65 respectively.
Amba explained that there would be a Special Salary Scale for Teachers in Basic and Secondary Schools, including provisions for rural posting allowance, science teachers allowance and peculiar allowance.
Other promises, according to him, included building low-cost housing for teachers in rural areas, and sponsorship to at least one refresher training per annum to benchmark best practices for improved teaching and learning.
He regretted that the approvals made by the former President were yet to be implemented, particularly the professional salary structure for teachers and urged the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the implementation of the policies for the development of the nation’s educational sector.
Amba explained that the solemn assembly by the NUT was organised to submit the activities of the Union into the hands of God, saying that they have found it imperative to invite pastors and imams of repute to lead them in praying to God.