Mr. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly.
Prince John, Lafia
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has summoned the State Commissioners of Education, Finance and the State Accountant General, Head of Civil Service and Director Salary Bureau to appear before the House on February 21, 2022.
The House said the summon was for them explain why the salary of the over 400 newly employed secondary school teachers were not paid three months after they were employed in November 2021.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi gave the directive after Hon Daniel Oga Ogazi, the Chairman, House Committee on Education raised the issue on matters of Public Interest during the House proceedings today in Lafia.
Balarabe Abdullahi said that for the standard of education to be improved in the State, teachers must be encouraged, motivated and their salary should be paid promptly.
“First, let me appreciate Hon Daniel Ogazi for bringing this very important matter and other members for your contributions on this issue.
“Honestly what is happening in the education sector, particularly in the State is saddened. Teachers were employed in the last three months and after three months, salary has not been paid.
“The State is not encouraging the teachers. For them to give in their best, they must be encouraged though prompt payment of their salary.
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“It is in view of this, we are inviting the State Commissioner of Education, Commissioner of Finance, Accountant General, Head of the Civil Service and Director Salary Bureau to appear before the House on Monday, Feb.21, 2022.
“This is to enable them explain to us and the people of the State why they have failed to pay the newly employed secondary school teachers after three months of their employment, ” he said.
“Without salary of teachers, believe me we kill their morale, we need quality education for our children, you can’t keep teachers in hunger and expect them to give their best” the Speaker added.
Earlier, Hon Daniel Oga Ogazi ( APC- Kokona East) , Chairman, House Committee on Education while raising the matter said that it was disheartening for not paying the newly employed teachers.
“To ensure quality and standard of education in the state , the newly employed teachers salary have to be paid.
“They were employed in November, 2021 and up till this moment, they are yet to be paid over 400 of them.
“We must give topmost priority to the welfare of teachers if we want quality and standard education in the state,” he said.
Other members, who spoke, the Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Nahemiah Tsentse Dandaura, Barr.Muhammed Alkali, Hon. Muhammed Muluku, Hon. Muhammed Okpoku, Hon. Muhammed Omadefu and Dr. Peter Akwe all supported the motion and urged the critical stakeholders that involved in the payment of salary and other responsibilities of teachers to appear before the House.
The commended the zeal of the Governor for approving the employment of the teachers and blamed those responsible for the payment of the salary and stressed that is bad to employed without paying hence the need for the government officials involved to come and clear the air on the matter.
