Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has assured that all outstanding salary arrears owed to teachers will be cleared before December 2024.
The commitment was made on Monday during a town hall meeting with principals and head teachers of public schools, which took place in Jalingo, the state capital.
In addition to settling the four-month salary arrears, Governor Kefas also pledged to promote deserving teachers.
To actualize this, he directed the state Ministry of Education to, as a matter of urgency, set up a committee to assess the issue of promotions and make relevant recommendations.
The governor, who noted that the journey towards free and compulsory education is key to building the future generation and that there is no going back on it, said his free and compulsory education policy remains central to progress in all areas of human endeavor.
Announcing that his administration is working tirelessly to ensure that not only young people receive the best education but also that their teachers are well-supported, he urged teachers in the state to engage with parents closely to ensure that all children are enrolled in school.
Over 100,000 school uniforms, bags, sandals, and other items, according to him, are ready and will soon be distributed to some schools for onward distribution to the children.
His administration, as he further disclosed, is working closely with the Civil Defense to enhance the physical security of school environments, ensuring a safe space for learning.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Education, Augustina Godwin, said that through the efforts and commitment of the current state governor in the education sector, the state has moved from an educationally disadvantaged state to one that competes educationally.
She noted that schools in the state have witnessed a significant increase in enrollment due to the free and compulsory education policy of the incumbent governor.
Assuring that the Ministry of Education will remain committed to supporting the vision and mission of the governor, the Commissioner urged for the immediate implementation of teachers’ promotions to boost morale.
At the time of filing this report, four months of salary arrears were still owed to primary school teachers across the state.
Kefas pledges to clear Taraba teachers salary arrears by December 2024
