Niger State Private Schools Owners have appealed to state and federal governments to consider the private schools in its intervention scheme of transport allowance to their teachers to cushion the effect of the economic hardship.
The management of Ibnu Rawaha International Academy, Bida, on behalf of other concerned private school owners made the appeal in a statement signed by the school director, Tayyib Muhammad.
He commended the Federal Government for approving transport allowance of N70,000 for federal civil servants, describing it as a welcome intervention which will go a long way to cushion the prevailing economic hardship.
“Economic hardship recognises no distinction between public and private employment. Private school teachers face the same rising transportation costs and living expenses as their counterparts in government service,” he said.
Muhammad recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government extended financial support to some private schools under its economic intervention programmes, noting that what justified such assistance during that crisis equally deserves consideration under the present economic realities.
The group also urged the Niger State Government, under the leadership of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, to demonstrate exemplary leadership by introducing similar support for private school teachers to complement the Federal Government.
They equally called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to broaden their advocacy beyond civil servants urging NLC to also champion the welfare of all workers, rather than concentrating exclusively on those only receiving government salaries.
“Our position is clear: if private school teachers deserved government assistance during the COVID-19 crisis, they equally deserve consideration amid the present economic hardship,” he declared.