From Unpaid Entitlements To GL 16: Ex-NUT Chairman Details Makinde’s Impact On Oyo Teachers
A former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State, Comrade Raji Oladimeji, has credited Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration with improving teachers’ welfare, career progression and professional dignity, saying the changes have transformed the teaching profession in the state since 2019.
Oladimeji, who is also Deputy Chairman of the Mobilisation Committee of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), recalled that before Makinde assumed office, teachers struggled with unpaid salaries, delayed leave allowances, stalled promotions and poor working conditions.
He said educators were often forced to seek assistance from individuals because of unpaid entitlements, while some remained stuck on Grade Level 13 for years.
Speaking on the administration’s record, the former union leader said Makinde’s emergence marked a significant departure from the previous situation.
God answered the prayers of teachers by giving us a governor who understands our plight. As the son of a teacher, Governor Makinde changed the narrative. Today, teachers can walk with their heads held high and speak with confidence,” he said.
Oladimeji recalled that teachers were on strike over outstanding entitlements when Makinde took office in 2019.
He said the administration subsequently cleared salary arrears and leave bonuses, regularised salary payments and addressed delays that had sometimes lasted two to three months.
He also credited the government with harmonising salary payments between primary and secondary school teachers, creating greater financial stability for educators.
According to him, regular payment of salaries and entitlements has strengthened teachers’ cooperative societies and supported the operations of NUT Endwell projects.
On career progression, Oladimeji described the removal of the restriction that prevented teachers from advancing beyond Grade Level 13 as one of the administration’s major achievements.
He said the barrier, which had reportedly remained for about 27 years, was removed, allowing primary school teachers to rise to Grade Level 16, with prospects of further advancement to GL 17.
He also praised the appointment of teachers as Permanent Secretaries and Tutor-Generals across the state’s 10 educational zones, saying the development had boosted morale and ensured that education professionals were better represented in the management of the sector.
On recruitment, Oladimeji commended the government for employing more than 14,000 teachers across primary and secondary schools, describing the exercise as a response to the global shortage of educators.
He particularly praised the Ministry of Education, Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB) for what he described as a transparent process without political, ethnic or other forms of discrimination.
He said non-indigenes were also given opportunities, adding that the recruitment exercise had become a model for other states.
The former NUT chairman further linked the increased number of teachers to improved school enrolment and efforts to tackle the problem of out-of-school children.
He also highlighted the reinstatement of teachers removed from the payroll under the administrations of former governors, the late Abiola Ajimobi and Adebayo Alao-Akala.
According to him, the Makinde administration reviewed affected cases and restored deserving teachers to the payroll, while avoiding what he described as unnecessary screening and victimisation.
He added that teachers accused of misconduct were given opportunities to defend themselves before disciplinary committees, with some subsequently granted pardons.
Oladimeji also recalled Makinde’s personal commitment to the teaching community, citing his decision to suspend his holiday in 2024 to attend the annual Teachers’ Day celebration despite heavy rainfall and other official engagements.
He further commended the governor for rehabilitating the road leading to the NUT office, which he said had remained neglected for several years.
He claimed that the governor’s relationship with teachers had earned him recognition from the NUT at the national level, including two commendation letters and awards.
Looking ahead, Oladimeji expressed confidence that the APM governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, could sustain the gains recorded in the education sector if elected governor.
He described Adekanmbi as a candidate capable of understanding complex governance issues and maintaining the policies established under Makinde.
The former union leader stressed the need to establish sustainable funding arrangements for salaries, pensions and other teachers’ entitlements to protect the gains beyond the current administration.
He consequently called for continuity in government policies affecting teachers, while expressing support for Adekanmbi’s governorship ambition and Makinde’s reported presidential aspiration.
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