VCT Forum Urges Kano Government to Improve Teachers’ Salaries, Citing Pay Reforms for Health and Higher Education Workers
The group says primary school teachers deserve better remuneration, calling on NUT and NLC to promote inclusive union leadership.
The Voice Concerned of Teachers (VCT) Forum has called on the Kano State Government to improve teachers’ salaries and working conditions, similar to the reported salary harmonisation initiatives for health workers and staff in the higher education sector.
The forum’s chairman, Comrade Abbas Adamu, said the challenges facing primary school teachers go beyond the issue of salary parity with other categories of public servants.
According to him, the condition of teachers reflects broader concerns about the value society places on education and the welfare of those responsible for educating future generations.
He argued that Kano State teachers deserve salaries comparable to those earned by their counterparts in other states, including Adamawa and Jigawa, which he said do not match Kano in terms of economic strength.
Comrade Abbas expressed appreciation for reports that the Kano State Government intends to harmonise the salaries of state health workers with those of their federal counterparts, describing the initiative as a commendable step towards improving workers’ welfare.
However, he maintained that teachers also deserve similar consideration, arguing that they play a foundational role in developing the workforce across all sectors.
“We believe that teachers deserve even greater attention because we are the foundation upon which other professions are built. Teachers also face significant economic hardship and demanding working conditions due to the complexities of their profession,” he said.
The VCT Forum chairman further called on the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to recognise the importance of teachers’ contributions and ensure that their welfare receives adequate attention.
He also urged the two labour organisations to embrace inclusive leadership by giving members equal opportunities to participate in union activities and decision-making processes.
According to him, trade unions should represent the collective interests of their members rather than serve the interests of a select few.
He argued that the unions need to reassess their approach to leadership and representation to address workers’ concerns more effectively.
The VCT Forum reiterated its call for improved teachers’ salaries, better working conditions and a more inclusive approach to trade union administration, stressing that investing in teachers’ welfare is essential to strengthening the education sector in Kano State.
