Teachers in Delta, Bayelsa oppose granting control of primary schools to councils

Delta State teachers yesterday took to the streets in Asaba to kick against the move to transfer the control of primary school education to local councils through constitutional amendment.

Besides, the aggrieved teachers, led by the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Jonathan Jemiriyigbe, deplored the five months’ salary arrears being owed them by different councils.

Jemireyigbe told Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Sheriff Oborevwori, that even with the joint allocation account committee, payment of teachers’ salaries was still not smooth, wondering what will be their fate should the payment be handed over fully to local councils.

He said: “NUT is saying that if autonomy is to be granted to local councils, the management and control of primary schools should be removed. This is the only way that the less-privilege members of the society can be able to educate their children. Throughout the country today, teachers are being owed salary arrears. A hungry man is an angry man. If council autonomy is granted and the management of primary schools is given to the councils, it means that primary education in the country will collapse.”

Also, primary school teachers in Bayelsa State yesterday took to the streets in protest against the move.

The teachers, who also denied the claim that they were against the ongoing constitutional amendment on local council autonomy, want their salaries and other obligations to be handled by federal and state governments.

The state’s Chairman, Mr. Kalama Tonpre and Principal Secretary, NUT, Mr. Johnson Hector, said the local councils lacked the capacity to pay the teachers’ salaries, subventions and welfare packages.

They lamented that they had been subjected to untold hardship by the local councils, which owed them various arrears of salaries.