The Akwa Ibom House of Assembly has assured the state council of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) of its readiness to interface with the executive to address the welfare of teachers.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Onofiok Luke, gave the assurance when NUT members paid him aid a courtesy visit in his office in Uyo on Friday.
The
speaker said that the legislature was ready to interface with the
executive to address the way forward on how to improve the well being of
serving and retired primary school teachers.
He
thanked the teachers for not embarking on industrial action but chose
to dialogue with the government over issues bordering on members’
entitlements and welfare.
Luke said that
the House would resume from recess in September, adding that it would
meet with the NUT members to get the true situation of the issues at
stake.
“I promise you that as soon as
we are back from recess, we will look into the issues to be able to
advise the governor appropriately.
“We
are the bridge between government and the people. As a House, we will
also interface with NUT and other unions to be able to get the true
situation of things.
‘’We will look into these issues,” Luke said.
Earlier, the state Chairman of NUT, Etim Ukpong,
said he and his colleagues were at the speaker’s office to intimate him
of some lingering issues affecting primary school teachers in the
state.
Ukpong, who is also the state
Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), pleaded with the speaker and
members of the House of Assembly to look into the welfare of NUT in the
area.
“As we speak sir, government
still owes primary school teachers arrears of leave grant of 2013, 2015
and 2016, promotion arrears since 2011 is still hanging.
“We
understand the current economic situation in our state and country. It
is our plea that this House, through your leadership, lends its weight
and support this plea, ” Ukpong said.
He,
however, said the union met and agreed that the funding and management
of primary school education should be taken from the local government
administration.
Ukpong said the union
also resolved that to enhance qualitative education and wellbeing of
teachers, funding of primary schools and payment of teachers’ salaries
and other entitlements should be transferred to the state.
He said in the alternative, it could on a first line charge.
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