By: John Bassey, Kebbi.
In Enugu State, history was made in the ancient Coal City as the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) opened its historic 59th National Delegates Conference, 8th Quadrennial National Conference, with delegates from the 36 states and the FCT.
The centre of attraction at the conference was the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, His Excellency, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, who stormed Enugu in grand style.
From a primary school class monitor to Branch Chairman, to State Chairman, NUT Kebbi, to National Treasurer, National Deputy President, and finally National President of NUT and Deputy President of NLC, Governor Nasir Idris is the first former NUT President to become a Governor in Nigeria.
His entrance into the hall was greeted with a standing ovation, with teachers chanting “Teacher-Governor! Teacher-Governor!”
Addressing delegates, the NUT National President, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, described Governor Idris as “The Pride of Nigerian Teachers”.
He said, anyone who visited Kebbi before and after Kauran Gwandu would notice clear difference in infrastructure, education, health, street lights and workers welfare.
Governor Idris has proven that a teacher can lead and deliver. His teacher-friendly scorecard is more than 1000 reasons, according to Kebbi NUT Chairman, Comrade Zaki Sarki:
1. Approval and implementation of full Sequential / Consequential Adjustment for primary school teachers – a benefit abandoned for over 15 years since N18k and N30k wages, restoration and payment of Headmasters’ and Assistant Headmasters’ responsibility allowances abandoned for over 20 years, a feat described by NLC Kebbi as historic in Northern Nigeria.
Implementation of N75,000 minimum wage, above the N70,000 national benchmark, implementation of 2023, 2024 and 2025 promotions* with arrears paid, Payment of 2024 and 2025 Annual Leave Grants to all teachers, Settlement of backlog of *gratuities and pensions for retired teachers and approval of Car Loan and Motorcycle Loan Schemes for teachers.
Construction and renovation of over 2,000 primary schools* across the 21 LGAs, recruitment of over 2,000 primary school teachers, 1,500 secondary school teachers, and 500 science teachers, plus absorption of over 300 volunteer teachers into core civil service.
Regular capacity building and training for teachers, appointment of 21 Professors as Chairmen of Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) to inject academic excellence into basic education management, declaration of State of Emergency on Education and increase in scholarships.
Governor Idris has extended the same gesture to the entire civil service via prompt and regular payment of salaries before month-end, clearance of gratuity and death benefits arrears, implementation of promotions across all MDAs, construction of the *ultra-modern State Secretariat Complex* at Gwadangaji, and the Kaura Cares empowerment programme worth billions for youth, women and vulnerable groups.
With a monthly wage bill for primary teachers jerked up from *N586 million to over N1.2 billion*, Kebbi NUT and Kebbi NLC have both issued statements hailing the Governor and urging teachers to reciprocate with dedication. 51e4
Indeed, as the eagles bearing the torch landed in Enugu, Kebbi teachers stood tallest, proud that their own Comrade is now Governor and is showing Nigeria that, when you give a teacher the opportunity to lead, the impact is visibly different.
