The Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) has kicked against granting of autonomy to the local government system in the country, saying teachers’ welfare will suffer if they are forced under the local government.

AOPSHON made the call in a communiqué it issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Awka, Anambra State, where it echoed the position of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) which said local government authorities don’t have the capacity to handle primary education.

The communiqué jointly signed by AOPSHON President Comrade Mahmud Lawal  and Oluwole Adeola the association discussed the issue of constitutional review by the National Assembly on local government autonomy, its implications on the payment of primary school teachers’ salaries and thus adopted the resolutions of the NUT as presented to the lawmakers and at the press conference addressed by NUT’s president on the subject matter.

It added that NEC in session took a comprehensive report from each state of the federation especially on the implementation of the national minimum wage and the 27.5% professional allowance and consequently expressed great concern on the attitude of some state governments who refuse to implement it up till now despite the economic hardship being experienced and the subsequent increase in the pump price of petrol diesel and kerosene in Nigeria.

 “NEC finally recommended immediate compliance by the state governments that are affected to implement and cushion the effects of down-turn economic conditions in the country and thereby arouse the additional levels of commitment needed by the workers and avert possible industrial misunderstanding.”