Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State on Tuesday announced plans to establish a high-powered committee to review salary-related complaints and grievances raised by primary school teachers across the state.
Mr Idris made the announcement in Birnin Kebbi during an interactive meeting with primary school teachers, officials of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), education managers, local government chairmen, and education stakeholders.
He said the committee would examine issues surrounding the implementation of the new minimum wage and other salary adjustments, and submit its report within one month.
The governor said the decision followed complaints by some teachers about the current salary structure.
He assured them that his administration would give due attention to all genuine concerns to find lasting solutions.
“As a teacher and former labour leader, I understand the concerns of teachers, and I will never ignore issues affecting their welfare.
“We shall set up a committee, headed by a competent professional, to review all complaints and submit its report within 30 days,” he said.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving teachers’ welfare and strengthening the education sector.
He said no administration in Northern Nigeria had invested more in education than the present government in Kebbi, citing interventions in infrastructure, personnel development, and workers’ welfare.
Mr Idris also directed all local government chairmen to publicly declare their councils’ allocations and salary commitments before his administration began, and compare them with current receipts, to establish whether salary increments had been effected.
To ensure transparency and accountability, Mr Idris called on education secretaries and directors of finance in the Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) to verify and testify to the figures presented by their respective councils.
According to him, verified facts and official records are essential to address misconceptions surrounding the implementation of the minimum wage and salary structure for primary school teachers.
The governor assured the teachers that their concerns would receive the attention they deserve, reaffirming his administration’s resolve to continue prioritising education, teachers’ welfare, and the state’s overall development.
He urged all stakeholders to remain patient and constructive while the committee carries out its assignment.
Earlier, the executive chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Suleiman Khalid, commended the governor for what he described as unprecedented investment in education.
Mr Khalid listed interventions, including school construction and renovation, teacher training, and welfare packages, adding that the meeting was historic and reflected the governor’s commitment to direct engagement with teachers.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Yakubu Bala-Tafida, said Kebbi was among the first states in the country to implement the new minimum wage.
He explained that the current salary structure was adopted after extensive consultations involving government and labour representatives.
A cross-section of teachers who spoke at the meeting acknowledged the governor’s interventions in the education sector and expressed appreciation for improvements in welfare and infrastructure.
They, however, appealed for a further review of salary disparities between primary and secondary school teachers.
(NAN)
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