By Favour Nnabugwu

The Federal Government has admitted its mistake of shortchanging 125,000 teachers that were trained for 2011 Millennium Development Goals to the tune of N1.44 billion just as it washes its hands off teachers’ choice of unionism.

Minister of Education, Prof Ruqquayat Rufa’i during the visit of NUT led by its president, Comrade Michael Olukoya to her office to air its grievances over what it described an unfair treatment of the Nigerian teachers, pleaded guilty for not paying teachers their due allowance during the training.

According to her, “That was a mistake on our part and we have to admit that but what we should be concerned about now is the way out of the mistake already made.

“I have asked the National Teachers Institute, NTI to use the resources at its disposal whenever the institute has a training programme for teachers.

“NTI cannot call a teacher for a training programme unless it has all the allowances of the teacher ready because it cannot expect a teacher to have the money to pay for her transport to the training venue, accommodation and all other expenses for the training.

“You cannot call for a training programme if you don’t have the money. The money is very critical in this respect.”

The Minister, however, assured the union that she has directed NTI to hasten up the balance for the 2011 training to the 125,000 teachers.

“What we have realised is that  the issue of unionism is voluntary. We have teachers in unity schools that are civil servants though we still recruit but l must say that is an issue that is entirely left to the teachers to decide.”

Nevertheless, she said that government has commenced regularizing employment of 1,500 casual teachers in the country.

Speaking earlier, NUT President, Comrade Michael Olukoya who commended the Minister for her audience to Nigerian teachers, insisted that the balance of the N1.44 billion for the shortchanged 125,000 teachers be paid without further delay.

“Teachers were to be paid a stipend of N14,000 per participant for the six-day training programme organised for teachers nationwide by NTI under the auspices of 2011 MDGs programme. The institute rather shortchanged the teachers by paying N2,500 to each participant.

“‘The union believes the offer is a slap on the sensibilities of teachers in Nigeria. In modern day Nigerian socio-economic predicament, the NTI is offering N416 daily to a teacher to cater for his transportation and accommodation.

“The union demands the immediate payment of the balance of N11,500 to each participant and we pray for your immediate intervention.”