Kano approves N578m for teachers’ promotion arrears

300 KIRS workers resign, accuse mgt of violating employment terms

The Kano State Government has approved N578 million for the payment of 44, 654 primary school teachers and non-teaching staff who were engaged in the state Universal Basic Education Board.

The promotion arrears cover teachers who were promoted but without financial benefit covering 2014, 2015 and 2016. Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba made this known at the end of the weekly state council meeting.

A statement by the Press Secretary to the governor, Ameen Yassar quoted Garba as saying that the council, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, approved the payment, from June 2017 after negotiations with Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT).

“After series of deliberations between the government and the unions, especially in view of the financial situation of the state, it was agreed the workers would forfeit their arrears.

“As at May, 2017, the state government was spending N2. 3 billion on primary school teachers but with the new development, their salaries would rise to N2. 9 billion.

“The state Executive Council had however, directed the Ministry of Finance and Office of the Accountant General to ensure the implementation of the increased salaries from the month of June, 2017,” Garba said.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 300 workers yesterday resigned their appointment after accusing the management of the Kano Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) of bridging the terms of their engagement.

They denounced their job shortly after receiving their N35, 000 salary, describing the management act as contradictory and against what they bargained for. But their representative declined to give details of the engagement terms with the management.

The Guardian learnt that the 300 workers were among the 764 graduates engaged three months ago. One of the workers, who identified himself as Abubakar Aminu, said they decided to jettison the employment because the management failed to fulfill some of the promises earlier made to them.

“Majority of us were persuaded to abandon our jobs to embrace the tax generation job only to be remunerated with N35, 000 monthly.

When contacted on telephone, KIRS spokesperson, Semira Sulaiman said she was not authorized to speak on the matter, adding that only the Executive Chairman, Sani Abubakar Dembo, can give a final word on the development.”