BY CHUWANG DUNGS
The Taraba State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has accused the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) of deducting check-off dues on behalf of the Union and refused to remit the same between November 2021 to date.
Check-off due is the money deducted from an employee’s salary for membership in a union or an organisation that represents workers in a particular industry.
The state chairman of the NUT, Nathan Solomon last Monday confirmed the story of the deduction without remittance to Newsmen in Jalingo.
“We have been running our union without remittance of check-off dues for over 2 years, the dues have been withheld by the state Primary Board, we are pleading with the governor to intervene in the matter.
He said the last government felt they could use stoppage of remittance of dues to ground the Union but their plans failed as members resolved to remain resolute.
The teachers alleged that there was an evil conspiracy by the immediate past chairman of the Board, Yakubu Agbaizo and the past governor, Darius Ishaku to wipe out the Union.
DAYLIGHTREPORTER gathered that the crisis between the Union and the last administration started immediately after the union’s election in 2021 as a result of the refusal of union members to allow the government to impose on them an unpopular candidate as the chairman of the union.
As a result of the outcome of the election a factional Union, known as Association of Basic Education Teachers (ABET), reportedly backed by the government was formed.
The crisis also led to the dismissal of 16 teachers by the Board.
However immediately after governor Agbu Kefas assumed office he immediately dissolved ABET and reinstated the sacked teachers.
The governor also dissolved the Agbaizo led Board members.
While commending Kefas decision of banning ABET, Solomon appealed to the governor to prevail on the board to release the two years dues of the teachers.
Solomon also applauded Kefas for reinstating the sacked teachers and also ordered the immediate payment of their 18 months salaries.
When contacted the Board Secretary, Rabi Sunday, who is the acting chairman of the Board refused to speak with DAYLIGHTREPORTER, she however send a message through the board information officer, that she cannot speak with Journalist since she is on “acting capacity”
