The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security given the spate of insecurity in the country.
Comrade Audu Amba, National President of the NUT, made the call at the union’s 6th Annual Solemn Assembly on Monday in Abuja.
According to him, Nigeria has experienced unprecedented security challenges such as Boko Haram Terrorist attacks, Banditry, Herders and Farmers clashes, vandalism, militancy and kidnappings in recent times.
“There was a report from the Joint Security Forces of Nigeria that 24,816 victims were killed while 15,597 were abducted since the beginning of the kidnapping to date.
“It is, therefore, my humble plea that the Federal Government declares a state of Emergency as far as the security situation did not improve.
“The government, at all levels, should do the needful since security is everybody’s business.
“Nothing can be achieved without security in the country.
“So it is imperative to move all stumbling blocks that are bedeviling the security architecture of the country.
“It is our hope that the Federal, State and Local Governments and all stakeholders in education will join hands to protect our schools and the education workers in Nigeria.”
Amba said that the Union was not deterred from presenting the demands for the welfare of teachers to the Federal Government for actualisation, in spite of the myriad of problems.
He listed their demands to include the Constitutional Amendment of funding for Primary and Secondary Education which, he said, should be placed on First Line charge in the country’s revenue allocation.
“It is our belief that when enacted into law, it will go a long way to address the issue of irregular salary payment of teachers across States.
“Teachers’ professional Salary Structure that is supposed to have been implemented in the year 2023, has not been accommodated in the budget; as such, we will continue to push for its implementation.
“We have met with the Minister of Education and relevant stakeholders on TRCN non-budgetary allocation by the Federal Government.
“Our resolve is that the issue will get to its logical resolution for the benefit of the teachers of Nigeria in the soonest future among other issues.”
He emphasised that NUT was against the non-uniformity of its scheme of service for all teachers in Nigeria.
According to him, the NUT will continue to seek actualisation of a uniform scheme of service for all States through the various organs responsible.
“The NUT is also not happy with the economic situation in the country and the free-fall of the Naira.
“It is alarming that the Naira is being exchanged for as high as N1,600 and above.
“As such we are asking the Federal Government, through CBN, to do the needful so that the sky-rocketing prices of goods and commodities, thereby making Nigerians to live in hardship, will be addressed.”
On the living wage for Nigerian workers and teachers, Amba said that the leadership of the Union was collaborating with the Committee of the New National Minimum Wage to make sure that an acceptable and sustainable minimum wage was agreed to.
Earlier, the clerics, Imam Muhammad Bin’Uthman and Rev. Fr Nduka Uzor urged Nigerians, especially teachers, to be truthful and committed in their service to humanity as they observed the Lenten season and month of Ramadan.
According to them, Nigerians should learn to live together, preserve lives and be patient and humble while providing services to citizens.