Nasarawa State Government has assured teachers in the state that it would implement the 27.5% component for Teachers Salary Structure (TSS), beginning from November, 2008.

This cheering news was disclosed by the Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, at this year’s World Teachers Day celebration, which took place at Central Parade Ground, Lafia, last week, with the theme "Teachers Matter."

Governor Doma who was represented by the state commissioner for education, Mrs Rebecca Isaac Umaru, said as part of its commitment to education and teachers’ welfare, the government has released the sum of N33 million to settle all the outstanding promotion arrears for teachers in the state.

He also said that the sum of N24 million was released for all primary school teachers to settle the arrears emanating from the promotion exercise of the teachers earlier approved for them by the government.

The governor assured that the state government would come out with a blueprint on the improvement of education which would stand the test of time.

He also stated that Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) would be reconstituted to fulfill the purpose for which it was established.

According to the governor, this year’s theme of "Teachers Matter" , should remind all teachers on the need to continue to improve on their teaching profession and dedication to their work.

Speaking earlier, Alhaji Ari Gwaska who was the chairman at the occasion, applauded teachers’ effort towards ensuring sound education in the state, commending the Nasarawa State Government for taking a giant step to revive the education sector in the state.

The guest speaker a the occasion, Honourable Lagi Innocent, observed that the theme "Teachers Matter", should not only be concerned with the condition and welfare of teachers, "but also the environment in which they work."

Hon. Innocent who is a member representing Wamba constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly quoted from 2008 World Bank Report which stated that 57 per cent of primary school teachers in Nigeria were unqualified. He noted that "lack of qualified teachers and poor educational facilities" were some of the "factors responsible for the sorry state of education in our society today".

In his speech, the state chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Asoloko Maku, expressed his gratitude to the state governor, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, for the release and implementation of promotions, annual increment of teachers and also the current reform agenda in the education sector of the state.

Comrade Asoloko called on all teachers to be focused, urging them to come up with ideas that would enhance the quality of education in the state.

The occasion which had in attendance the state commissioner of information and orientation, Alhaji Abdullahi Mustapha Aliyu and other distinguished educationists in the state, also featured march past by contingents of teachers and the All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Nasarawa State chapter.