The Cross River State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Chief Victor Felix Idem, has explained the reasons behind the recent reversal of an upward salary adjustment affecting teachers employed by local governments across the state.
Idem clarified that the development was not a deliberate salary cut, but rather the reversal of what he described as an erroneous adjustment in the Local Government Teachers’ Salary Structure that had created a disparity between local government teachers and their counterparts in the State Public Service.
According to the Commissioner, the government took the decision after discovering irregularities in the payroll system and moved to restore uniformity and equity in the remuneration of teachers performing similar duties and occupying the same salary grade levels.
Government Identifies Salary Disparity
Speaking on the controversy surrounding the adjustment, Idem said local government teachers had been receiving higher salaries than teachers employed by the state government, despite both categories being placed on similar salary grade levels.
He explained that a review of the Revised Salary Structure for Teachers (RSST) applicable to the Local Government Service showed that the basic salary and statutory components were consistent with the structure applicable to state-employed teachers.
However, additional payments had been included in the local government teachers’ remuneration, creating a significant disparity.
The Commissioner maintained that the additional payments were not based on an approved government wage policy.
“The local government salaries were discovered to be excessively higher,” Idem said, explaining that the additional payments had not been authorised by the government.
Reversal Was to Correct Payroll Irregularity
Idem argued that describing the decision simply as a salary reduction was misleading, insisting that the government was correcting an administrative and payroll anomaly.
He explained that instead of demanding that teachers refund the excess payments they had previously received, the government decided to discontinue the additional payments going forward.
“Instead of the government actually asking them to refund those monies they were paid illegally, we just left it and stopped paying the money,” he stated.
According to him, the approach was intended to correct the irregularity without imposing an immediate financial burden on affected workers.
Government Seeks Salary Harmonisation
The Commissioner said the reversal forms part of a broader effort to harmonise the remuneration of teachers across the State Public Service and Local Government Service.
He explained that teachers performing similar responsibilities and occupying equivalent grade levels should be remunerated under a consistent framework.
“The government reverting it is to ensure that there is no industrial disharmony between the state teachers and the local government teachers,” Idem said.
The proposed harmonisation is expected to eliminate disparities arising from unauthorised additional payments and establish a uniform and sustainable salary structure.
Labour Consultations Underway
Idem disclosed that relevant authorities had been directed to commence the necessary review process, with the State Government Teachers’ Salary Structure provided as a reference for harmonising the two remuneration frameworks.
He also confirmed that consultations had been held with representatives of organised labour as part of efforts to resolve the issue and arrive at an acceptable salary structure.
According to the Commissioner, maintaining different remuneration outcomes for teachers on the same grade levels and performing similar functions could create perceptions of unfairness and potentially trigger industrial disharmony within the teaching service.
Commissioner Urges Stakeholders to Understand Government’s Position
Idem urged teachers, labour leaders, and other stakeholders to consider the circumstances surrounding the adjustment before describing it as an arbitrary reduction in workers’ salaries.
He maintained that the government’s objective is not to deprive teachers of legitimate earnings but to correct an administrative anomaly and establish a properly authorised remuneration structure.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring equity, consistency, and sustainability in the payment of teachers across Cross River State.
He said the ongoing harmonisation process is ultimately aimed at ensuring that teachers under both the state and local government systems are treated fairly under a unified and properly regulated salary framework
Hope you find the Above publication useful, Calabargist will love to keep you updated via our newsletter by subscribing with your email.
