By Amos Aar
SOME Primary School teachers in Benue State who were on a peaceful protest on Tuesday visited the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) headquarters in Makurdi to register their grievances.
Mr Elijah Kpenwuan who led the protest informed the Special Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom on Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr Kenneth Achabo, that the move was to complain about the omission of their names when February and March salaries were paid.
Responding, the Special Adviser, Barr Kenneth Achabo, who attributed the situation to the shortfall from the federation account said, his office was working in collaboration with SUBEB toward finding solution to the matter and assured that all genuine teachers would be given their entitlements.
Barr Achabo further assured that the Benue State Government would also ensure full implementation of all primary school teachers across the state.
National Record Correspondent gathered from the Information Officer of SUBEB, Mrs Erdoo Sar, that the Board’s Executive Chairman, Comrade Joseph Utse, said the SUBEB was aware of the issue, adding that he had already directed those affected to be paid before the close of the day and announced that the management of SUBEB was expected to meet over the matter on Wednesday.
Utse explained that already, a committee set up by Governor Ortom to work on the promotion of teachers had taken note of the disparities and efforts were being made to address them and commended the teachers for coming to the Board to register their grievances.
Commenting, State Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Levi Akuma, assured the affected teachers that his committee had already taken the matter up with both the Bureau and SUBEB, urging them to be patient.
The leader of the affected teachers, Mr Kpenwuan thanked the SUBEB Chairman and the Special Adviser for their assurances.
