By Abdullahi Inuwa
The Kebbi State Government’s committee on the review of the salary structure of primary school teachers and implementation of the ₦75,000 minimum wage has submitted its report to Governor Nasir Idris.
Presenting the report at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi, Chairman of the committee, Professor Malami Shehu, disclosed that more than 29,000 primary school teachers are currently recorded across the state.
Professor Shehu said the committee recommended a comprehensive personnel audit and biometric verification of teachers to establish an accurate database and identify possible ghost workers.
He added that the exercise would also help the government obtain reliable records on promotions, replacements for retired or resigned personnel, as well as staff transfers.
According to him, previous administrations that adopted the ₦18,000 and ₦30,000 minimum wage regimes failed to properly reflect the approved salary tables in the payroll of primary school teachers, unlike the structure applicable to secondary school teachers.
He said the resulting discrepancies had contributed to the present salary challenges confronting primary school teachers.
The committee chairman also recommended the introduction of responsibility allowances for head teachers and supervisors, stressing the need for stronger cooperation between local governments and Local Education Authorities.
He further proposed the establishment of a standardised database and quarterly inter-ministerial meetings to regularly review teachers’ salaries and other issues affecting the education sector.
Receiving the report, Governor Nasir Idris said he would carefully study the recommendations before presenting them to the State Executive Council for deliberation and appropriate action.
The governor commended members of the committee for their work, saying the findings would assist the administration in addressing longstanding issues surrounding the remuneration of primary school teachers.
Governor Idris expressed concern that some primary school teachers were still taking home relatively low salaries despite the implementation of the ₦75,000 minimum wage.
He disclosed that since assuming office, his administration had increased the monthly salary allocation for teachers from about ₦586 million to more than ₦1.2 billion.
The governor said his administration was determined to improve workers’ welfare, noting that the earnings of civil servants should ideally double, or even triple, to cushion the impact of rising economic pressures.
In separate remarks, leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) further highlighted their observations and recommendations contained in the committee’s report.
The report is expected to form the basis for further government deliberations on the salary structure, payroll verification and implementation of the minimum wage for primary school teachers across Kebbi State.
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