Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has inspected a data processing centre where government officials are verifying the records of teachers participating in the ongoing strike by pre-tertiary teacher unions.
The validation exercise is part of government’s efforts to address the outstanding concerns of the unions and facilitate the payment of monies owed to affected teachers.
Mr Iddrisu said the government is targeting the validation of records for at least 51,000 teachers by Monday, October 5, 2026. The exercise is expected to provide the basis for processing supplementary payments owed to the teachers.
He explained that after the validated records are submitted, the Ministry of Finance will be instructed to begin arrangements for the first tranche of the outstanding payments. The initial payment is expected to be processed by October 16.
The Minister urged officials involved in the exercise to ensure that the work is completed quickly and accurately, noting that proper validation is essential to ensuring that eligible teachers receive their payments.
He further indicated that government’s commitment would be demonstrated through the validation of 52,000 out of the 80,000 records, while urging the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department to expedite the process.
Promotion Arrears
Mr Iddrisu also reaffirmed government’s commitment to moving teachers who have been promoted onto their new salary grades by October 30, 2026.
He stressed that government would have no justification for failing to pay the outstanding promotion-related salary arrears and effect the placement of teachers on their new grades by the stated deadline.
The Education Minister also appealed to the striking teachers to reconsider their decision and return to work.
While acknowledging the importance of the unions’ concerns regarding a collective agreement and new conditions of service, he said discussions must continue in an atmosphere of mutual respect and good faith.
He called on both government and the teacher unions to maintain constructive engagement as efforts continue to resolve the issues at stake.
