Niger state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT has expressed concern over the continued closure of some primary and secondary schools for over one year in five local government councils affected by insurgency.
The affected local government councils are Rafi Munya Shiroro Mashegu and Mariga.
Principal Administrative Secretary NUT Comrade Labaran Garba said this while interacting with Newsmen in Minna the Niger state capital.
Comrade Labaran Garba appealed to the Niger state government to redouble efforts at containing such problems for smooth reopening of schools for effective teaching and learning.
According to him teachers in Niger state are worried that continued stay at home by pupuls and students may lead to increase in societal vices which is inimical to the growth and development of the state since according to him an idle mind is a devil workshop.
Comrade Labaran Garba therefore stressed the need for Niger state government to come up with alternative method of teaching those students on either radio or television to keep them busy and updated.
On the fifty million naira Teachers Endownment Fund which Niger state government said it has launched he said it was a good development if and only the state government will demonstrate positively its good intention in utilising that fund if at all given.
The Principal Administrative Secretary NUT Niger state explained that they cannot give the state government hundred percent score marks until they see a clear demonstration of that money in the endownment fund then they will give them hundred percent applaus.
Comrade Labaran Garba also decried over the non remittance of thier dues by Niger state government and State University Basic Educcation Board which has been militating against their smooth operations even though there were some assurances from state government to settle its own.
Int Aliyu Lawal.