Rising Costs Render Teachers' Salaries Insufficient in Benue

Comrade Josephin Tori, the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) for the Benue State Chapter, expressed concerns regarding the rising cost of living, which she stated has made teachers' salaries virtually useless. In an interview in Makurdi, Tori lamented that the current minimum wage is insufficient to meet the needs of civil servants, particularly teachers.

She noted that even an increase in the minimum wage to millions of naira has had little impact due to inflation. Tori urged the federal government to address inflation and stabilize the economy to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.

She emphasized that the minimum wage no longer adequately sustains workers or meets their socio-economic needs. Additionally, Tori acknowledged the issue of salary arrears owed to teachers, revealing that the government inherited a backlog of 15 months of salary arrears for primary school teachers, with two months already settled.

She expressed hope that the government would intensify efforts to clear the outstanding debts.