NUT officials have no authority to authorise salary deductions – Taraba teachers

Teachers in Taraba State have refused to accept the reasoning provided by the Taraba State Universal Basic Education Board (TSUBEB) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) concerning the removal of N5,000 from their paychecks and backdated amounts. Represented by Concerned Affected Teachers of Taraba State, they described the deduction as illicit, unjust, and a form of extortion.

In a statement dated August 14, 2026, the teachers claimed that TSUBEB had taken the money under the pretext of paying for permanent identity cards. They argued that the expenses associated with administrative tasks, including identity cards, biometric data collection, and personnel databases, should be covered by the employer, not the employees.

While acknowledging the need to modernize the education sector and boost administrative efficiency, the teachers maintained that such changes should not be financed through compulsory deductions from workers' salaries. They also questioned TSUBEB's assertion that the deduction had been discussed and endorsed by the NUT leadership.

The teachers firmly stated that union officials lack the power to authorize deductions from individual members' statutory earnings without obtaining proper approval from the affected workers. They further accused the NUT leadership of betraying teachers' interests, whom they are duty-bound to safeguard. The N5,000 cut followed an earlier N3,000 deduction for APER forms, and the teachers contended that the combined deductions were causing financial strain on educators during a period of economic hardship.

They also raised doubts about the claimed N5,000 expense for biometric identity cards and demanded transparency regarding the procurement process. The teachers urged TSUBEB to reveal the company that secured the contract, whether competitive bidding took place, and why the cost was not included in the state's education budget if the identity card project was a priority.

They deemed the N5,000 deduction an abuse of administrative authority, as it was implemented without prior individual notification or a clear legal basis. The teachers categorically rejected the N5,000 deduction, criticizing the explanation provided by TSUBEB as insufficient. They called upon Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, to investigate the matter and direct the immediate return of the deducted funds.

Despite the challenge, the teachers emphasized their commitment to their responsibilities but vowed to oppose what they deemed unjustified deductions from their hard-earned income.