The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded the arrest of former Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, over the non-payment of salaries to 1,800 teachers employed in Federal Government Unity Schools who have reportedly been unpaid for 36 months.
In a statement on Wednesday, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, expressed profound dismay and indignation. Despite the significant personnel budget expenditure by the Federal Ministry of Education, these teachers have yet to receive their rightful earnings, a situation the group described as a gross injustice.
The association questioned why these teachers were employed without a plan for timely payment and demanded accountability for this gross negligence. HURIWA stressed that the issue began during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, and Adamu Adamu, as the then Minister of Education, should be held responsible.
Additionally, HURIWA urged the current administration of President Bola Tinubu to issue a stern warning to the present Ministers of Education. The association criticized their insensitivity, questioning why they have not prioritized resolving this issue despite being aware of it upon taking office. HURIWA emphasized that the current ministers should have made resolving the unpaid teachers’ issue a priority upon discovering it.
“Unity Schools, also known as Federal Government Colleges, play a crucial role in promoting national cohesion by bringing together students from diverse backgrounds across Nigeria. These schools are vital for fostering unity and integration among young Nigerians. For instance, a child from Sokoto might be posted to a Federal Government College in Okigwe, Imo State. The non-payment of teachers in these institutions undermines their effectiveness and threatens the nation’s educational framework,” HURIWA lamented.
The association also raised concerns about the increasing exodus of mathematics teachers and other skilled educators from Nigeria to countries like Canada, Britain, and Australia. “The British government, for example, is actively recruiting mathematics teachers, and many Nigerians are leaving due to better pay and working conditions abroad. This brain drain further exacerbates the challenges facing Nigeria’s education system. Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria emphasized that teachers are the backbone of the education system, and their welfare should be a top priority.”
