Facilitators in the postgraduate diploma in education (PGDE) department of the National Teachers Institute (NTI) have raised their voices in protest against an alarming 19 years of unpaid arrears for teaching practice and project supervision, amounting to billions of naira.
Exclusive interviews with PGDE facilitators in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other states have unveiled the distressing ordeal they have faced. One facilitator, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed the dire situation they have been subjected to.
“The payment system is full of discrepancies; we get paid irregularly. At one point, we received about N11,700 for a three-month course. The institute uses a divide-and-rule technique, alienating different centers so we don’t get a clear picture of the payment arrears being owed. We have tried to dialogue, written letters, but the situation remains the same. They keep promising to pay for over 10 years, but our arrears are yet to be paid,” the facilitator lamented.
The daunting situation has prompted a formal letter addressed to the NTI director-general, with copies forwarded to several high-ranking officials, urging swift and decisive action to address the non-payment of PGDE Teaching Practice and Project salaries dating back from 2006 to 2023. Despite students paying for these services, facilitators have not received their rightful remuneration. This gross neglect has not only demotivated facilitators but has also had a detrimental impact on their performance, consequently affecting the overall quality of education.
The letter to the NTI director-general demands a thorough investigation into the monumental indebtedness, seeking to identify and hold accountable those responsible. Additionally, it implores the prompt disbursement of all outstanding salaries and allowances owed to facilitators or their next of kin for the period between 2006 and 2023. Furthermore, it calls for the establishment of a transparent forum to address payment grievances and prevent such occurrences in the future.
Similar disturbing issues have come to light at the University of Benin, where a PGDE student, Agnes Ozoenu disclosed that the PGDE institute is currently on strike over unpaid arrears.
“We were preparing for exams in July, but the facilitators have stopped teaching us over unpaid salaries, so we’re waiting to resume lectures,” Ozoenu lamented.
The distressing situation surrounding the 19-year arrears of unpaid salaries for PGDE facilitators underscores the pressing need for decisive action to rectify the issue and ensure fair treatment for these essential educators.
The plight of NTI PGDE facilitators highlights a significant systemic issue within the institution. Addressing the arrears and establishing transparent payment processes are critical steps towards restoring trust and ensuring that educators receive the compensation they deserve. This action is not only necessary for the well-being of the facilitators but also for maintaining the quality of education that the NTI aims to provide.
