By Stephen Odey, Cross River State Commissioner for Education, has warned the 18 local government chairmen in the state about the negative effects of withholding teachers’ salaries.
During a meeting in Calabar, Odey emphasized the importance of ensuring regular salary payments to boost teachers’ productivity. He highlighted that even small but consistent payments are crucial for maintaining morale and performance.
Odey also referred to a Supreme Court ruling that mandates council chairmen to prioritize these payments, as teachers’ salaries are often deposited into local government accounts.
While discussing his tenure as chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Odey credited the board’s achievements to timely salary payments. He introduced an ICT tool to track salaries, which helped ensure banks fulfilled their obligations to teachers.
In response, Yibala Inyang, Chairman of the Association of Council Chairmen and Yala LGA chairman, called for greater autonomy for chairmen to hire more teachers and improve the education sector in their areas.
