Kwara State is in a bid to secure loan to the tune of
N1.5 billion to pay off salaries of teachers, Commissioner for
Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Musa Yaketi, disclosed
to News Agency of Nigeria today in Ilorin the state capital.
According to Yekiti, the state had already secure a
loan of N4.8 billion from Sterling Bank, part of which was used to pay
the first tranche of the salary, remaining three months arrears.
The commissioner appealed to teachers across the
state to suspend the strike, in the interest of their pupils, adding
that the issue of salary was beyond redemption, as no money is coming
in.
NAN reports that the indefinite strike has entered
its second week, with the resolution from the Nigerian Union of Teachers
(NUT) not to go back to work until their salaries were fully paid.
NUT chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Musa told NAN the
concerned teachers have been directed to remain at home until further
instruction from the union.
Musa said that teachers cannot adequately impact knowledge on the students with empty stomach.
“There is no way the hungry teachers could
deliver effectively, it is better for teachers to remain at home until
the government is capable of paying them,’’ the NUT boss said.
“Non-payment of salaries is like the case of a
labourer going to farm with empty stomach, there is the possibility that
he would not be able to perform”, he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Muideen Akorede, Senior Special
Assistant (SSA) to the Governor, told NAN that the delay in payment of
salaries was due to shortfall in monthly allocation to the state.
“In Kwara, this has resulted in some delays, especially at the local government level.
“This has led to wrong speculation that the state government interferes with LG funds; this is untrue,” Akorede added.
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