22nd September, 2016
The Federal Ministry of Education on Thursday assured that salaries of the striking teachers of King’s College, Lagos, would be paid next week.
The Deputy Director of Information, Mr Benjamin Goong, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that government was making efforts to pay the teachers so that the students could resume for the new academic session.
Members of staff of the 107-year-old institution had embarked on an indefinite strike over arrears of salaries owed them since May.
They claimed that their names were omitted from the salary payroll since May and blamed it on a mix-up between the Budget Office and the Ministry of Finance.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, which waded into the matter, shut down the college, vowing that the workers would only resume after all outstanding salaries are paid.
Goong, however, told NAN that the government was addressing the problem, assuring parents and students that resumption was in sight.
“The ministry is working hard to ensure that King’s College resumes within the next one week.
“We are particularly grateful to the Minister of Finance and the Accountant-General of the Federation, who have approved a warrant to that effect.
“The warrant will be cash-backed next week and payment of salaries will begin next week.
“With the development, therefore, we want to assure the students and parents not to worry as the strike is technically over and resumption in sight.
“King’s College will resume for normal academic activities for the new session within one week,’’ he said.
He said that the strike was occasioned by an unintended omission of the institution’s personnel cost in the 2016 budget.