Primary school teachers across Delta State are outraged over a recent ₦5,000 salary deduction imposed by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Delta State Wing, for the production of identity cards. The teachers have called the move unfair, particularly amid the nation’s challenging economic conditions, and are demanding immediate government intervention.
According to a circular issued on September 26, 2024, the NUT mandated that the cost of the ID cards be deducted in two installments, starting from October. Teachers have strongly criticized the union, questioning why such a high cost is being applied to mass-produced IDs, and why their salaries are being targeted with repeated deductions.
What has further fueled their frustration is the claim that secondary school teachers are being treated more favorably. Many primary school teachers allege that arrears owed to them have been unjustly delayed, while their secondary school counterparts have been fully compensated. There are also accusations that top NUT officials have received their arrears while primary school teachers continue to suffer financially.
One disgruntled teacher said, “What justifies ₦5,000 for an ID card, especially when it’s mass-produced? Why is it always primary school teachers’ salaries being tampered with? We are sick and tired of illegal and oppressive deductions by the NUT leadership under Comrade T.O. Okotie.”
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The teachers further accused the NUT of prioritizing their personal and secondary school teachers’ welfare, at the expense of primary school educators. Allegations have surfaced that union executives and their relatives receive preferential treatment when it comes to payments.
As teachers continue to endure what they call “financial oppression,” they are calling on Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to step in and stop these deductions, which they say are illegal. “We need the government to protect us from these unfair practices,” another teacher stated.
Amid mounting anger, efforts to reach the NUT for comments have been unsuccessful, with provided contact numbers going unanswered, further deepening concerns about transparency within the union. Teachers are demanding answers and action, vowing to intensify their protests until their grievances are addressed.
