Outcry in Kwara As Teachers Protest Over PAYE, Special Union Deductions
By Omowumi Omotosho
Educators in Kwara State have taken to the streets, staging a protest at the Nigeria Union of Teachers headquarters in Asa Dam, Ilorin, to voice their concerns over disparities in the newly implemented minimum wage.
The teachers argued that under the current pay structure, a gateman earns N70,000, while a graduate teacher receives only N75,000, raising questions about fair compensation.
National Pilot, recall that last week, Kwara State Governor Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq endorsed a N70,000 minimum wage, in alignment with the recent federal government mandate.
Moreover, in a press release issued last week, Finance Commissioner Dr. Hauwa Nuru announced that the new wage would apply to all public servants in Kwara State, with implementation starting in October 2024.
However, the Kwara Advocacy Network, a youth-led political organization, voiced disappointment with the N70,000 minimum wage, emphasizing a growing wage gap between Kwara workers and their counterparts in neighboring regions.
The group urged Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration to reconsider pay scales, particularly for senior officials at levels 15, 16, and 17, to uphold competitive and fair standards.
While the wage increase was meant to be a step forward, the advocacy group highlighted potential challenges, pointing to the administration’s limited action on bridging income inequality between Kwara and other states.
Meanwhile, at the time of filling this report, the Kwara state government is yet to react to the protest staged by the Kwara State Teachers over the PAYE and special union deductions.