BY CELESTINE IHEJIRIKA / JALINGO
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Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Taraba State, Comrade Nathan Solomon has called on the state government to consider its members to rise to grade level 17 as applicable to other civil servants in the state.
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Solomon who made the appeal at the World Teachers day celebration in Jalingo, also urged the government to address the payment of outstanding salaries of teachers who have made sacrifices despite working in difficult conditions.
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The theme of the event “Teacher for teachers, together for Tomorrow” according to comrade Solomon reminds us of the urgent need to elevate the status of teachers, empower them with tools and recognize their central role in shaping a better future.
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He also applauded efforts of the state Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas Administration for making sure that education would not be left to chance.
“He declared a state of emergency in the education sector and has since matched words with action. This bold step alone speaks volume of his deep understanding that education is the bedrock of every meaningful development”, he stated.
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The labour leader noted the remarkable initiatives free and compulsory education in the state’s public schools, provision of teaching and learning materials, ongoing renovation and construction of schools as well as payment of examination fees for students and recruitment and training of teachers are clear intervention of Governor Agbu Kefas and by extension reducing the burden on parents.
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Also speaking, the national president of the union Comrade Audu Titus Amba called on governments at all levels to adequately fund public education, invest in teachers and support them in creating a peaceful, fair and sustainable future for all.
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The national president represented by a national officer of the union, Comrade Obeje Onum, emphasized the need to prioritize education and give it adequate budgetary allocation and equitable funding that will improve the working conditions of teachers and by extension better the learning conditions of the children.
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Amba congratulated Comrade Nathan Solomon’s led administration in Taraba and its members for working tirelessly and living upto expectations and urged him not to relent.
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He is equally commended on the state governor Dr. Agbu Kefas Administration’s efforts on education which according to him has changed the narrative of Taraba state.
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Meanwhile the state commissioner for basic education Dr. Augustina Godwin has lauded the leadership of NUT in the state, assuring the union of Governor Kefas resolve to address its needs in no distant time.
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