FG owing Unity Colleges teachers 36-month salaries — Education Minister

Some teachers of the United Colleges across the country are being owed 36-month salary by their employer, the Federal Government.

This was confirmed by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.

Mamman who spoke on the sidelines of a three-day EdTech Conference organised by Mastercard Foundation in Abuja on Tuesday pledged the 36-month salary arrears will be paid.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman made the pledge on the sidelines of a three-day EdTech Conference organised by Mastercard Foundation in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to reports, no fewer than 1,800 teachers of Unity colleges are being owed salary arrears and other allowances for three years.

The teachers were recruited by the Federal Ministry of Education in 2018, 2019, and 2020 as education officers and posted to schools across the country.

They were, however, not paid due to logistic challenges encountered at the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS)’ desk of the ministry.

Other reason given for the non-payment was the failure of the ministry to transmit the files of the affected teachers to the Budget Office  for vetting and onward transfer to the Accountant General’s office for approval.

Mamman said the files of the affected teachers were already with the Ministry of Finance, while assuring that the teachers would be paid soon.

“The issue of the teachers’ salary is already with the Budget Office and the Ministry of Finance. So hopefully, they will be paid.

“I can’t tell exactly when their money will be paid. We don’t pay in the Ministry of Education. But we have done the paper work. It is already in Finance. Hopefully, very soon, they will get their money,” he said.