Lagos State Government Rectifies Payment Discrepancy for Primary School Teachers

The Lagos State Government has taken action to rectify a payment discrepancy affecting primary school teachers in the state.

The government has now started paying these teachers the full wage award it had previously promised, after two months of shortchanging them.

The issue arose in December 2023, when the Lagos State Government issued a memo stating that all civil servants in the state would receive a ₦35,000 wage award (palliative) alongside their December salary and bonus.

This payment was intended to be a temporary measure, pending the review of the national minimum wage.

However, while all workers in the state received the full ₦35,000 in December 2023, primary school teachers were only paid ₦20,000.

This discrepancy continued in January 2024, when civil servants in other parastatals, including secondary school teachers, received the full ₦35,000, while primary school teachers were again shortchanged.

The Pulse report, published on February 26, 2024, brought attention to the plight of these teachers and the ongoing discrimination they faced.

The Lagos State Government responded by paying the full wage award to primary school teachers in February 2024, two weeks after the report was published.

Teachers have expressed their relief at receiving the full wage award, but they are also calling on the government to pay the arrears from December 2023 and January 2024.

They believe that this would be a fair resolution to the issue and would demonstrate the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns of its employees.

The Lagos State Government’s decision to rectify the payment discrepancy for primary school teachers is a step in the right direction.

It is important for the government to address issues of discrimination and ensure that all workers are treated fairly and equally.

By paying the full wage award to these teachers, the government is demonstrating its commitment to the welfare of its employees and its dedication to providing a fair and equitable work environment for all.