By Jako Keke, August 14, 2026.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Taraba State Wing, has appealed to teachers across the state to remain calm over the deduction of ₦5,000 from their salary arrears for the production of Permanent Identification Cards.
The State Chairman of the union, Comrade Nathan Solomon, made the appeal in an interview with our Correspondent, following an outcry by some primary school teachers over the deduction.
Solomon explained that the decision to deduct the amount was not taken unilaterally, stressing that the issue had been discussed and agreed upon by the leadership of the union.
According to him, Branch Chairmen of the NUT had in May 2024 agreed that a specified amount would be deducted from teachers’ arrears, once paid, to facilitate the production of Permanent Identification Cards for teachers across the state.
He expressed concern over reports allegedly portraying the union in a negative light, insisting that the deduction was the outcome of a collective understanding reached by the union's leadership after due consideration of the need for proper identification and documentation of teachers.
The NUT Chairman said the production of the identity cards was part of broader efforts to sanitise the teaching workforce and establish an accurate and reliable database of teachers in the state.
He noted that the absence of comprehensive and verifiable data had, over the years, created difficulties in the implementation of teachers' promotions and other career-related benefits.
Solomon disclosed that since 2006, there had been challenges with the implementation of teachers’ promotions, attributing the situation largely to the absence of concrete and reliable data needed to facilitate the process.
He said the introduction of permanent identification cards would help address some of these challenges by providing verifiable records of teachers, their identities and employment status.
“There is a need to have accurate data of teachers in the state. The identity cards will help us to know who our teachers are and make it easier to implement policies, including promotions,” he said.
The NUT chairman further revealed that plans were underway for a comprehensive verification exercise for teachers in the state next year, expressing optimism that the new identification system would make the exercise more effective and transparent.
According to him, a credible database would not only assist government and relevant education authorities in planning, but would also help prevent impersonation, duplication of records and other administrative irregularities within the teaching service.
He therefore urged teachers not to misconstrue the deduction as an attempt by the union or government to place additional financial burdens on them.
Solomon maintained that the initiative was undertaken in good faith and in the long-term interest of teachers, particularly in strengthening their documentation and ensuring that their records are properly captured.
He appealed to members of the union to seek clarification from their branch and state leadership whenever concerns arise, rather than relying solely on reports that could create unnecessary tension among teachers.
The controversy followed complaints by some primary school teachers across Taraba State over the deduction of ₦5,000 from the arrears recently paid to them following the intervention of the Taraba State Government under Governor Agbu Kefas.
While some teachers questioned the basis and timing of the deduction, the NUT leadership has maintained that the amount was agreed upon for the production of Permanent Identification Cards and forms part of an effort to improve teachers’ documentation and personnel management in the state.
The union leadership has consequently called for understanding and cooperation from teachers, stressing that accurate identification and reliable personnel data remain essential to addressing longstanding administrative challenges in the teaching profession.
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