Posted by By FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, Abuja on
Citing the strategic roles they play in the development of the society and enlightenment of the citizenry, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that it would push for a new Teachers Salary Structure (TSS), as already being canvassed for in the last 15 years.
Citing the strategic roles they play in the development of the society and enlightenment of the citizenry, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that it would push for a new Teachers Salary Structure (TSS), as already being canvassed for in the last 15 years.
NLC President Abdulwaheed Omar made the promise when he received in his office members of the Standing Committee of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), who paid him a solidarity visit.
According to him, the issue of enhanced salary scale for teachers had been on the front burner over the years and that the time is ripe for its actualization, maintaining that the teachers deserve the most enhanced salary in the country given their invaluable contributions to national development.
Omar said NLC would liaise with the NUT on this and appropriate committee would be set up to see to it, pointing out that the NLC under him would not compromise on any matter having to do with the welfare of the workers.
He commended the Federal Government for preparing a supplementary budget to accommodate the new 15 per cent salary raise agreed with the workers in the wake of the increase in the pump price of petroleum products, saying the move was an indication that the government had done away with the ugly past, where agreements freely entered into are broken.
Earlier, the Acting President of NUT, Chief Onem Nelson who led the group had canvassed for the enhanced teachers salary, arguing that the fact that the NLC President is a teacher makes the matter easily understood by the congress.
He expressed the satisfaction of the union at the quality of leadership Omar had provided the congress within the short period of time he had held sway as the number one labour leader, and promised that the union would not abandon him but will always be there anytime he needs the support of members.
Meanwhile, the NLC has vowed to battle the Federal Government to a stand still over the plan to commence deduction of the controversial five per cent from salaries of workers into the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The Congress in its resolution at the National Executive Council (NEC) held in Asaba last weekend and contained in the communiqué signed by the President and General-Secretary, Messrs Abdulwaheed Omar and John Odah said it was strongly opposed to the deduction and would do all within its power to stop the plan, including industrial action.
The Congress maintained that the burden of the deduction would be too much for the workers to bear in view of the load of on-going deductions such as the housing fund, contributory pension fund and a harsh personal income tax regime.