By CrossRiverWatch Admin
The Executive Chairman of the Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Stephen Odey has said that there is no teacher under the payroll of the state government that is being owed salaries as being rumored.
According to Dr. Odey, SUBEB has been working tirelessly to reposition the basic education sector in the state with Governor Ben Ayade’s top priority being the teachers welfare and indeed the welfare of the entire civil servants in general.
He further called on all Cross Riverians to discountenance the rumors making rounds that teachers are been owed salaries in Cross River State.
“This rumor about teachers unpaid salaries has been orchestrated by mischief makers and failed politicians who deliberately refuse to see any good in the present administration of Senator Benedict Ayade.” he said.
The Executive Chairman, stated that SUBEB under the Administration of Governor Ayade has been transparent and prudent in all their activities, making sure it is no longer business as usual.
He added that this has attracted frivolous petitions against the Board but also assured that under his leadership, SUBEB has and will always defend their activities and stand vindicated due to their commitment to the promotion of best practices.
Dr. Odey insisted vehemently that: “The rumors making rounds that teachers are being owed salaries for months is not only mischievous, but baseless, frivolous, hogwash and worthless load of swill, the general public can confirm from teachers across the state to know that their salaries have been paid up-to-date (May,2017).
“It is quite unfortunate that mischief makers and failed politicians in their plan to score cheap goals are now out to thwart the good efforts of His Excellency, Professor Ayade, who is vigorously committed and determined to make teachers welfare better.
“Rather than commending and reciprocating the good gesture of His Excellency, the NUT has shown ingratitude even when teachers promotion is been processed for implementation.”
Dr. Odey described the development as the highest level of disrespect and disservice to the government of Cross River State and Nigeria.
“His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade after realizing that the Ministry of Local Government previously saddled with the responsibility of paying teachers salaries had some mixup with the consultants, which led to some teachers been paid months ahead, others not properly paid/omissions in payment, in order to entrench efficiency in teachers salaries payment, His Excellency, the Governor who has been passionate about the welfare of teachers mandated SUBEB to take over payment of teachers salaries and to be efficient about it.
“The Ministry of Local Government prior to SUBEB taking over payment of teachers salaries had paid teachers up to the month of February, 2017. While SUBEB effectively and efficiently took over payment of teachers salaries and have paid up-to-date – May, 2017.
“For the month of June, 2017, salaries have been processed; if not for this malicious strike, June salaries too would have been paid.
“The general public can confirm by asking teachers across the State if they are owed salaries! The NUT chairman too is alive to verify that teachers are not owed salaries in Cross River State.” Odey insisted.
The SUBEB boss called on all and well meaning Cross Riverians to visit his office to see verifiable documents and proofs that teachers are not owed a dime with regard to salaries.
“Even when the counterpart funding of UBEC for 2012-2015 was not accessed by the previous administration, the coming of Senator Professor Benedict Ayade made available, funds amounting to N3.8 Billion for marching grant and even accessed the 2016 marching grant putting Cross River State ahead of many other states in Nigeria.
“Now about 380 projects have been awarded for infrastructural development of our basic schools. About 80,000 plastic tables and chairs have been provided alongside magnetic boards, sporting equipments, books, computers to all the LGEAs, etc. to boost teaching and learning in our schools across the state.
“The Governor, Senator Professor Ayade has given his all to ensure that the state gets the best of education and SUBEB under this leadership has been transformed and stabilized for efficiency to the betterment of teachers in Cross River.
“Recall that during the recent teachers audit and verification exercise conducted by SUBEB, about 1,000 ghost teachers were uncovered while others with issues of fake certificates were also discovered, and you do not expect the government to keep paying ghost workers and teachers.
“It is perceived that the mischief makers who have been drawing from ghost teachers salaries are bent on destabilizing the system at all cost.” he added.
Odey appealed to the leadership of NUT to as a matter of urgency, call off the strike action and called on all the teachers to report back to work “for we all have a lot to do for our dear Cross River and Nigerian children.”
He emphasized that SUBEB and Professor Ben Ayade are poised to making sure teachers welfare is a top priority of government as aptly demonstrated by the prompt payment of salaries since he came on board.
He challenged anyone who is doubtful that teachers are not owed salaries to go to court and he will personally meet such a person in the temple of justice.