Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has explained the reasons behind the delay in implementing the proposed N90,000 minimum wage for teachers under the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
The governor said the delay is largely due to the ongoing payment of gratuity arrears owed to local government retirees across the state.
Speaking in Abakaliki during the official distribution of instructional materials to public schools, Nwifuru noted that the financial burden of settling pension obligations has limited the ability of the 13 local government councils in Ebonyi State to immediately begin paying the new wage to junior and primary school teachers.
According to him, current financial records show that most local governments retain less than N150 million after settling gratuity payments for retirees. He explained that allocating additional funds for the new wage at this time could disrupt administrative operations at the council level.
“There have been concerns over the non-payment of the N90,000 minimum wage to newly recruited teachers posted to schools across the state,” the governor said. “However, after settling gratuities, most local governments do not take home more than N150 million. Further deductions could affect effective governance at the local level.”
Despite the delay, Nwifuru reassured teachers that the implementation of the new minimum wage will commence soon once the backlog of gratuities is cleared.
He explained that the government is working towards a system where retirees can access their gratuity within one month of retirement, adding that the current financial commitment is aimed at eliminating outstanding payments.
“We are making this sacrifice to clear the backlog of gratuities. I am confident that within the next two months, we will conclude the payments and begin implementing the N90,000 minimum wage for SUBEB teachers,” he said.
The governor also noted that other categories of workers in the state are already benefiting from the revised wage structure and assured teachers that they will soon be included.
Beyond the wage issue, Nwifuru called for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s basic education system, arguing that the current curriculum places too much emphasis on theoretical knowledge while neglecting practical and vocational skills.
According to him, many graduates struggle in the labour market not because of a lack of intelligence but due to structural weaknesses in the education system.
“The problem is not with the graduates. They studied what was made available to them. The real challenge lies in the structure of our education system,” he said.
He further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening public education in Ebonyi State, noting that the government has begun enforcing regulatory measures against substandard private schools to improve education quality across the state.
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