The Oyo State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, has revealed that the State government is yet to give primary schools across the state running grants for two consecutive terms while the secondary schools are yet to be given grants for the just concluded first term and that they were paid half of the due grants for the previous term.
This development, the union said necessitated the writing of examination questions on the board for Students during their first term examination.
The union spoke today through its national editor Comrade Seye Obadina on behalf of the state chairman on IMPACT POINT – a news and current affairs programme on IBR 92.5fm monitored by OYOINSIGHT.COM.
The programme is anchored by Aanuoluwapo Omorinde.
Obadina who affirmed the ability of the state government to execute its free education policy expressed hope that the governor will resolve the issue very soon.
Reacting to the rumour that examination questions were written on the board for students, the NUT scribe said “It is true. The primary schools are yet to be paid for second term last session and for the just concluded first term. You will recall that third term was cancelled because of coronavirus. As for the secondary schools, they were paid half for the last term and are yet to be paid for the just concluded term. The debt incured by the school heads for last term is yet to be settled”. The teachers had to write the questions on the board in protest”.
“I need to make some clarifications. It is the responsibility of the local government to pay primary schools. May be the challenges confronting the local government is causing the delay in the payment”.
“I must tell you this government is doing its best. I am a national officer of NUT, I can tell you that if you compare Oyo state with other states, Governor Seyi Makinde is really trying. We are trying to see the governor because once we have an audience with him, we know this problem will be resolved.
When asked if the NUT has met the state government on this matter, he said “we have met with the commissioner for education, the head of service and SUBEB chairman”.
Amidst the surge in coronavirus cases across the world, Obadina said it is not advisable to lock down schools in Oyo state as necessary measures are in place to check this pandemic in schools across the state.
