By John Odhe, YENAGOA
Bayelsa State primary school teachers have cried out to the state and local government authorities for inclusion in the recently disbursed 40 percent peculiar allowance.
They expressed dismay to the state government and local government councils over their total exclusion from the disbursement.
In a communique issued by the leadership of the eight local government branches of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, the union noted with that while other civil servants and public workers received the allowance with their October salaries, primary school educators were completely left out.
Describing the omission as, humiliating, and deliberate marginalization, the union emphasized that teachers also patronised the same markets and face identical economic hardships as all other public workers in the state.
The union called on the government to ensure the immediate payment of the allowance, full payment of six months of arrears for the 25 percent and 35 percent wage increments, and an immediate upward review of monthly running costs and imprest for headmasters and principals.
It warned that failure to address these critical issues would leave them with no choice than to take necessary constitutional and industrial actions to protect the livelihood of their members.
The communique was signed by the leadership of the eight local government branches, alongside branch chairpersons including Sir Comrade Ekereke Aruaman, NUT chairman for Ogbia LGA.
Others are Comrade Ikiba Clinton Izibenidie, NUT chairman for Yenagoa LGA, Comrade Tarabina Ebikibina, NUT chairman for Kolokuma LGA, and Akadah Emomotimi, the NUT chairperson for Sagbama LGA.
Additional signatories include Comrade Dokubo Innocent, NUT chairman for Brass LGA, Comrade Amakiri Idibiye, NUT chairman for Nembe LGA, Comrade Koko Michael Opuru, NUT chairman for Ekeremor LGA, and Comrade Ofongo Rose, NUT chairperson for Southern Ijaw LGA.
