Says extension teachers should be paid without further delay
Maduako Igbokwe l Saturday, August 08, 2020
ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – Chairman, House Committee on public petition, Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Aforka has expressed shock over the victimastion of some of extension teachers in the state.
The committee chairman spoke shortly after receiving petition on victimization of extension teachers who had attained the mandatory retirement age of five from Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT Anambra state chapter.
Chairman of Anambra NUT, Mrs. Chibueze Nnonye led the team that submitted the petition to the committee in Awka.
Hon. Aforka told the delegation that the House frowned seriously at the alleged victimization of some extension teachers since it is the policy of the state to extend their services to five years.
According to him, the Head of Service did issued a circular where it clearly extended the services of teachers from 60 to 65 years, saying that in regard to the circular anybody who is a beneficiary of the gesture is deemed not to have been retired.
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“For somebody to have rendered service for five and eight months and the person is being denied payment and the person is not also receiving any pension or gratuity, the committee sees it as a very serious victimisation and the committee frowns at such development” he said .
He also stated that the house frowned at the threat of cancellation of the Extension Teachers Policy, just because some people want to victimise some other people.
“The position of the committee is that the status quo should remain, nobody should victimise anybody. They should be paid without further delay. The committee will recommend this to the plenary for resolution” he added.
Speaking also on the matter, chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Ejijke Okechukwu, said the issue of extension was a clear demonstration of lack of teachers in the state.
“All these policies and counter policy are pointer to the fact that we don ‘t have enough teachers in the state. I will always call on the executive to look into teachers’ employment because it is all about our children who are leaders of tomorrow. I think government should employ more teachers to address shortage of teachers in the state” he said.
Addressing reporters, Mrs Chibueze Nnonye said the petition became necessary since Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board ASUBEB has been trying to frustrate extension teachers in the state.
According to her, NUT wrote the petition to tell the house that since January till date some extension teachers have not received their salaries, stating that all the teachers on extensions should be treated equally.
” They are just victimising some people because they are occupying positions in the NUT. Ihiala and Idemili North local governments have not received their salaries for eight months, while those in Njikoka , Anambra North and East local government have received their full salaries” he said.
At the submission of the petition, the state Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof Kate Omenugha said that the policy of extension has not been canceled but that those who were not paid were those whose employment letters were signed in error.
According to her, the affected persons did follow due process of application, saying they have neither been officially disengaged nor their retirement documented by the ministry.
She condemned the chairman of NUT for requesting to be a beneficiary in the extension adding that she wants to remain in the office, saying that she ought to have left the office, since she was no longer active in service.
But the chairman House Education Hon. Ejike Okechukwu told her that since she admitted that she signed their employment letters in error and has cancelled it, she has no choice but to pay them.
He also told her that it is not her duty to know who leads a trade union , since they have constitution and nobody is complaining, she should not border herself about NUT chairman. According to him, he will not support the cancellation or none payment of people already employed in the programme.
