Governor Fintiri bags award of excellence

By Muhammad Babangida Muhammad

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has received an award of excellence from the Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT as the first Governor in the country to increase teacher’s years of service from thirty five to forty years even before the pronouncements by the federal government in that regard.

He was presented with the award by the National President of NUT Doctor Idris Nasir Idris during the Quadrennial State Conference of Delegates for election of new leadership of the union at the state level for the next tenure of four years.

Speaking at the event held at Lelewal Motel in Yola Wednesday Governor Umaru Fintiri expressed his appreciation for the award, declaring that he did not take it for granted and vowed to redouble his efforts in according priority to teachers’ welfare in Adamawa.

He revealed that under his administration teachers will get their reward here instead of the hereafter and that was why government extended years of service for English and Science Teachers by five years in addition to promotion of Teachers in Post Primary Schools and the increase in the allowances of core subjects Teachers among others.

The Governor commended the State chapter of NUT for supporting and ensuring that the recent verification of Teachers is successfully undertaken which was a prelude to the employment of more qualified Teachers in order to fill the noticeable gap in the number required in schools.

He urged the delegates to deliberate on issues that will bring back the lost glory of the Teaching profession and Education in Adamawa and Nigeria at large and wished them a successful delegates’ Conference.

The National President of NUT Doctor Idris Nasir Idris while speaking saluted Governor Umaru Fintiri for the giant strides so far achieved in the education sector and urged him not to relent as the national leadership of the union and teachers in general has great faith in him.

In his solidarity message, the State Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress NLC Comrade Emmanuel Fashe, commended Governor Umaru Fintiri for according priority to the workforce and called on him to offset the arrears of the national minimum wage and leave transport grant for state government workers.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the state chairman Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT Comrade Rodney Nathan appreciated Governor Umaru Fintiri for raising years of service for science and English teachers, restoring feeding in public schools, promotion of teachers and stability in payment of their salary among others.

He enumerated the achievements of NUT under his watch to include clearing of Six months salary arrears to Primary school teachers, implementation of twenty seven point five percent allowances to teachers, restoring the glory of the union, completion and commissioning of NUT Petro Gas.

He highlighted some problems of teachers to include lack of promotions for fourteen years in the primary school sector, lack of upgrade of teachers and non-payment of leave transport grant and non implementation of national minimum wage to teachers and urged the Governor to intervene.

Highlight of the event was presentation of gift to the National President of NUT Doctor Idris Nasir Idris by Governor Umaru Fintiri.