The Cross River State Government has ordered the immediate resolution of outstanding salary and promotion issues affecting teachers across the state, reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of the workforce driving the education sector.
The Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey, Esq., gave the directive on Wednesday in Calabar during an emergency meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and senior officials of the Ministry of Education.
The meeting followed concerns raised by the NUT over alleged non-payment of salaries, non-implementation of approved promotions and reduction of teachers’ allowances, with the Commissioner directing relevant authorities to urgently address the issues.
Odey directed SUBEB to properly verify and authenticate teachers with outstanding salaries through the required supervision and documentation processes, stressing that all genuine beneficiaries must be paid their outstanding entitlements to the last kobo.
He also directed the relevant authorities to ensure that teachers whose promotions had been duly approved and implemented receive all corresponding entitlements, emphasising that no genuine teacher should be denied benefits legally due to them.
The Commissioner said the action was consistent with the administration’s determination to ensure that government-approved welfare measures translate into actual benefits for teachers, whose commitment remains vital to the delivery of quality education across the state.
He noted that Governor Bassey Edet Otu had demonstrated strong commitment to teachers’ welfare through the approval and release of funds, stressing that the responsibility of ensuring that approved benefits reach the intended beneficiaries rests with the relevant implementing authorities.
Odey therefore charged the implementing agencies to work with greater diligence, transparency and accountability, saying administrative bottlenecks should not frustrate the payment of approved entitlements to teachers.
The Commissioner further directed the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Ntunkae Mrs. Offiong Ani Offiong, who also doubles as Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, to work with appropriate local government structures to identify and resolve bottlenecks affecting teachers’ salaries.
He called for greater collaboration among all stakeholders in the education sector, stressing that the sector must remain united and focused on its core responsibility of delivering quality education to children across Cross River State.
According to him, improving teachers’ welfare is essential to sustaining a motivated workforce, strengthening classroom delivery and advancing the government’s broader education agenda.
The Chairman of SUBEB, Chief Magistrate Mrs. Fidelia Okpo Ene, and the NUT Chairman, Comrade Gregory Olayi, commended Odey for his timely intervention and commitment to addressing the concerns of teachers, expressing confidence that the directive would facilitate the resolution of the outstanding issues.
By Patricia Ogbeche
