From Mu’awiya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Katsina State Wing, has called on the state government to restore the 27.5 per cent teachers’ allowance, which was suspended in 2011.
The Chairperson of the union, Rakiya Shehu Runka, made the call during the State Delegates Conference held at the Local Government Service Commission in Katsina.
Speaking shortly after her re-election for another four-year term, Runka expressed concern that teachers in many states across the country continue to enjoy the allowance, while their counterparts in Katsina have been denied the benefit for over a decade.
She noted that despite several appeals by the union, the allowance has yet to be restored, stressing that its reinstatement would promote industrial harmony within the education sector.
“Restoration of the allowance will also motivate our teeming teachers and improve their productivity,” she said.
The NUT chairperson, however, commended the administration of Dikko Umar Radda for its investments in education, particularly the construction and renovation of primary and secondary schools, as well as the training and retraining of teachers.
She also praised the government for recruiting 7,000 teachers and for the ongoing replacement exercise involving 2,000 additional teachers across the state.
At the conference, delegates elected a new executive council to manage the affairs of the union for the next four years.
Runka was re-elected as Chairperson, while Aliyu Ibrahim Mafazu retained his position as Deputy Chairman.
Other officials returned to office include Abdullahi Ibrahim, Sani Nasiru, Abdu Bako Matazu and Yahaya Wada as First, Second, Third and Fourth Vice Chairmen respectively.
Also elected were Suwaiba Hassan as State Treasurer, Usman Dalha as First Internal Auditor, Yunusa Muhammad Batsari as Second Internal Auditor, Mamuda Abdu as Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Umar as Social Secretary, Bashir Musa Shehu as Assistant Social Secretary, Ibrahim Musa as National Representative and Hamisu Muhammad as State Editor.
In her acceptance speech, Runka thanked delegates for the confidence reposed in her leadership and pledged to justify the mandate entrusted to her.
“I sincerely thank you all for the confidence and trust you have placed in me. I humbly accept this responsibility and pledge to serve with honesty, dedication and fairness,” she said.
She assured members that the union would continue to prioritise teachers’ welfare, strengthen the organisation and support initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education in Katsina State.
Runka further pledged to work closely with members and relevant stakeholders to address challenges facing teachers and advance the interests of the profession.
She called on teachers to remain united and committed to the objectives of the union, noting that collective efforts were essential to achieving lasting progress in the education sector.
Delegates at the conference described the election as peaceful and transparent and expressed optimism that the renewed leadership would consolidate ongoing efforts to improve teachers’ welfare and professional development in Katsina State.
