Primary school teachers in Plateau State on Monday said they would not return to the classrooms on empty stomachs despite the reopening of Schools by the state government.
As at 8:30am some of the teachers in Jos North who showed up were heard asking the pupils who had reported for school to go back home.
Our Correspondent who visited some of the schools reports that at St Luke’s primary school in Jos North LGA, the school gate was under lock and keys as neither the teachers nor the pupils were around.
It was also gathered the situation was the same in several primary schools visited in Jos South LGA and other council areas of the state.
Speaking to our Correspondent at St Peter’s Primary school Bukuru, Jos South LGA, said they decided to stay at home because they did not have money to pay for their transport to and from school.
He blamed the situation on what he said was the state government’s refusal to pay them their salaries as well as implement the N30,000 minimum wage.
“Since November, we have not been paid any salary. Even the N30,000 minimum has not been paid to us. Where do you want the teachers to get money to transport themselves to school and teach the children?
“That’s why many of us decided to stay at home and a few that reported to school only came to inform the pupils to go back home until the government resolves the issues,” the teacher said.
