NUT defends N5,000 deduction from Taraba teachers’ arrears

The deduction of N5,000 from the salaries and arrears of primary school teachers in Taraba State has triggered controversy, with affected teachers questioning the legality, purpose and approval behind the collection.

The development has generated complaints among teachers after some discovered that the amount had been deducted from their payments.

The issue subsequently attracted attention on social media, where allegations emerged that the Taraba State Universal Basic Education Board (TSUBEB) had unlawfully removed the money from teachers’ earnings.

But TSUBEB has rejected the allegation, saying the deduction was authorised and specifically meant to finance the production of permanent identity cards for primary school teachers across the state.

In a clarification issued through its Public Relations Department, the board said the identity card initiative was designed to establish a reliable identification and documentation system for teachers, while strengthening personnel records and improving administrative efficiency in the basic education sector.

“The initiative was discussed with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Taraba State Wing, and received the union’s support following consultations between the two bodies,” the board said.

“The proposed permanent identity cards would provide teachers with an official means of identification and incorporate modern security features to facilitate proper identification, accountability and personnel management.

The exercise would assist the administration of governor Agbu Kefas in developing an accurate and verifiable database of teachers in the state,” TSUBEB explained.

It maintained that the N5,000 deduction was not connected to any loan, debt or other financial obligation, insisting that the money was specifically for the production of the teachers’ identity cards.

The NUT has also defended the collection, providing further details on how the decision was reached.

In a statement signed by the chairman of the NUT, Taraba State Wing, Nathan Solomon, the union said the arrangement was reached in 2024 with the consent of the appropriate board.

“It was agreed that whenever salary arrears were eventually paid, N5,000 would be set aside from each affected teacher’s payment for the production of identity cards containing relevant information about individual teachers,” Solomon explained.

He said the initiative was considered necessary to help the government determine the actual number of teachers working in the state and establish accurate and reliable records of personnel in the teaching profession.

“The identity cards would also play a role in future promotion exercises by helping to ensure proper identification and documentation of teachers,” the NUT chairman added.

He urged members of the public and those circulating information about the collection to verify the facts before publishing or sharing claims, particularly on social media.

The development comes against the backdrop of another deduction that generated concerns among civil servants in Taraba earlier this year.

The state government had explained a separate N3,000 deduction from workers’ January salaries as payment for the production of Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) forms.