NEVER in its long history had the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) seen a chairman serve two consecutive terms—until Comrade Titus Okotie broke the mold in 2017. Now, as his second and final term nears twilight, he steps onto The Pointer Platform to reflect on his tenure—the triumphs, trials and lessons learnt. Beyond unionism, he offers a glimpse of what lies ahead and with characteristic candour, speaks out on the challenges facing the constituency he represents, teachers. Excerpts.
Tell us a bit about your background.
I am Comrade Titus Okotie, the Delta State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and I double as the Principal of Uwheru Grammar School in Ughelli North Local Government Area. At the same time, I am also the chairman of EDOLOOKOE, which means I am the chairman of nine states (of the NUT). EDOLOOKOE is an acronym for nine states: Edo, Delta, Ondo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, Oyo, and Ekiti. This means all the western states and Edo, Delta and Kwara states.
Why not narrow it to the South/South geopolitical zone?
At the national level of the NUT, we divided Nigeria into three regions. We have the eastern region which comprises Rivers, the other south-south states and the Eastern states, and the remaining 19 states are called Arewa. This is how we divided Nigeria into three regions.
You have been the state NUT Chairman for about eight years now, can you share your experience so far?
To God be the glory. I have been on the saddle for close to eight years now and by the special grace of God, I would have completed eight years before the year runs out. The experience has been wonderful and we give God the glory. I learned so much on the job and so I think I am very satisfied. So far, God has been guiding me and to the best of my knowledge, I have put in the best I should. It is an opportunity to serve.
You must see service as a sort of rent you pay while you are living on Earth. The nature of my job is to serve people, mould young ones and build the younger generation for tomorrow, and also to ensure that you give them (young ones) a very solid foundation.
Within the period, you may have recorded low moments, what are the challenges so far?
Of course, in any time of service you render, there must be low and high moments. Most of the low moments were the period when the government seemed not to pay the desired attention to the yearnings of my colleagues (teachers). But so far, we thank God.
How were you able to overcome such moments?
We overcame some as a result of persistent struggling, reminders and follow-ups. So, we have been able to overcome some of the challenges as a result of persistent follow-ups and I think that has been the advantage we have. We do not relent until we attain our objective.
Talking about struggles, what is the relationship between the NUT and the Delta State Government as it concerns teachers’ welfare and industrial harmony?
Without mincing words, I must tell you that for the past eight years, the relationship between the NUT and the state government has been cordial and very symbiotic in the sense that there is a give-and-take. In most of our challenges, the government has harkened to our yearnings, apart from very few.
Before I came on board, there were myriads of challenges. In those days, we have a situation where, probably as a result of inadequate revenue, teachers were owed over three month’s salaries. As soon as I came in, within the first year it became a thing of the past because as at the time I came in, the local government council owed teachers’ salaries of over three months and as soon as I came in, one month’s salary was paid and within the remaining six months, we overcame the problem and it became a thing of the past.
What other benefit can you point at that teachers enjoyed in your eight-year administration?
The record is very clear. Before I came in, there were promotion arrears since 2016. You will recall that I came in in 2017 so, teachers were being owed, especially those in primary schools. They were owed from 2016 until 2022 because of inadequate revenue according to the council. But I can tell you that as of November 2024, all those promotion arrears have been cleared. As of today, I can testify that the local government council does not owe teachers any dime as far as promotion arrears are concerned apart from very few persons who could not be captured when they were asked to submit their data. You know, you cannot claim arrears without promotion letters. But for those teachers who submitted when it was requested, I am sure none of them can complain. But for those who did not submit at that time, we are still pursuing it to see how we can appeal to the relevant authorities to tamper justice with mercy.
You have just told us how the Delta State Council of the NUT is better off under your eight-year leadership. Now, does it mean that the struggle has ended?
You can only see that in n utopian state. I have not said that.
So, what are the current challenges teachers in the state are confronting?
The moment there are no challenges, life itself becomes boring and is not worth living. Certainly, there are still many challenges but the major one is a situation where a university-graduate teacher in the primary school will be stagnated on Salary-Grade Level 14. It is not acceptable. We are not in Apartheid South Africa.
We have one Establishment Rule which states that when you are a graduate, there is a particular level you can get to; there is career progression up to Level 17. But in the case of primary school teachers, we have discovered that they are still using the archaic scheme of service which was in place when the minimum qualification was TC II. Today, the minimum qualification in primary school is NCE.
This is the greatest challenge which we are currently facing and we are ready to do anything to make sure that we actualize it. We appeal to the government to do the needful and correct that anomaly. Otherwise, we will not hesitate to take any action that is lawfully allowed to press home our demands.
Has the government responded to your earlier appeals, have you dialogued with the relevant authorities?
We are still expectant. It is not too long we wrote. We hope that before the end of this week if the government is responsive, we will hear from them.
On this same issue, what is obtainable in other states?
Earlier, I introduced myself as the Chairman of eight other states, apart from Delta (EDOLOOKOE). So, I know what is happening in those states. In the closest state to us (Edo), graduate primary school teachers get to SLG17. When Adams Oshiomole was the Governor of Edo State, a primary school teacher was made a Permanent Secretary. I know the lady. That was around 2013. So, what are we talking about? We have only one Establishment Rule; once you are a graduate, nothing can stop you at SLG14. It is not practised anywhere around the country. It was like that when the maximum qualification was NCE while the minimum qualification was TCII. Today, according to the education policy, TCII is no longer tenable in the school system and so the current minimum is NCE.
We are not saying that all the primary school teachers should be promoted beyond SGL14, but the graduate who has upgraded himself, applied for study leave and was duly granted. So, when he comes back, what do you expect of him? To remain on SGL14? It is an aberration.
I feel that if the commissioners are doing their job and adding value to the system, and if they do not see their appointments as patronage or empowerment, they ought to have discovered that anomaly and corrected it before now. But it is so unfortunate that nothing is happening in that line. They now see their appointments as patronages or empowerments and this is so unfortunate.
While you wait for the government’s response, what length are you willing to go in pressing home your demands?
We will go to any length.
Do you plan to down tools?
We will get to any length including downing tools which is one of our options.
With the massive recruitment of science teachers about two years ago by the state government….
Was the recruitment massive? In a situation where 10,000 teachers retire and you recruit 1,500 teachers to replace them, can you call that massive? The government considered it for the system not to collapse and that was why the paltry recruitment of a few science teachers took place, otherwise, teachers retire in every discipline. But because of the importance of the sciences to go to the next age, that was why the government harkened to our call. Otherwise, we requested a minimum of 8,000 teachers at that time.
So, what number were you able to get?
As you already know, 1,500 teachers were recruited in 2022. So, it was not massive.
You succeeded in going for two terms for the first time in the NUT. How were you able to do it?
Very simple! Service. Service to the establishment you find yourself. Diligent service for that matter. You know, by nature, we are selfish. When you find yourself in a situation where you want to render sincere service, you will not even know that you are trying your best but it is the people who will see that when you are sincere and genuine. Of course, it will be difficult for you to leave because they (people) will want you to continue (in service). So, if your people come to you, asking you to serve for another tenure, who am I to say no. I had to accept the challenge and that is why I have been there till today.
You know, as NUT Chairman, I have an office here in Asaba but you can hardly find me there. I am sure you must have tried looking for me there several times. This is because I make sure that the challenges of teachers are faced headlong by moving from one ministry to the other. Maybe that is the secret.
What kind of legacy would you want to leave behind when you finally bow out?
Sincerity of purpose and diligent services. I have just discovered that in a system like Delta, for instance, nobody wants to look at the governor and tell him the truth. But by the nature of our services, we must be very sincere and we have been trying to be sincere. At times, when you are even trying to tell the truth, you see people making some kind of gesture which is very unfortunate. This is why it is always very easy to miss the cause as a governor.
What is your relationship with the Academic Staff of Secondary Schools (ASUSS)?
At the inception of that association, they approached the leadership (of the NUT) that they wanted to be a pressure group within the NUT. But it got to a stage where they felt that they needed their autonomy and they have been going about their autonomy all along to be registered as a trade union. However, the trade union law is there; whether any other association can be registered to unionize a separate body. As of today, the only union known to law to unionize both primary and secondary school teachers is the NUT.
You can also call any member of your staff and without subscribing to the NUJ, you can form an association, either to be a pressure group within the NUJ or whatever. The law covers you but it cannot take the place of the NUJ.
Talking about the teachers’ award, it appears no longer to exist. What becomes of the award after your tenure?
Yes! Based on the concerted efforts of the press and our voicing out that it (the teacher’s award) was about to become moribund during our time, the government in its wisdom approved that the award be given. But you know the way the ministry does its things.
It is quite unfortunate that as of last year, we couldn’t select the awardees not to talk of giving the award. And you do not expect me to be part of anything that is not based on merit. So, I am not fighting for a particular person but for the best to come out.
What are the criteria for selection/emergence?
It is committee-based; both the ministry and the union. This was how we started. But I am surprised. What is causing the delay of this edition now is that I was supposed to be in a meeting with them today but when I got there, what I saw was not palatable and so I objected.
What did you see?
A situation where some names have already been selected without my knowledge. Do you want me to rubber-stamp it? I cannot. So, I just left in annoyance. Things are not done that way. But they have promised to revert back to the old system where the Chief Inspectors of Education will give out the questionnaire form and start the way it ought to be. I will also inform all my branch chairmen to actively participate. Otherwise, I cannot append my signature to what I am seeing now.
Talking about teachers in rural areas who do not report to their place of assignments (schools). What is the NUT doing about this?
You see, there must be a Judas in every 12. Otherwise, anybody who has been following the activities of the NUT knows that we do not take nonsense for an excuse. We are a disciplined organization but that is not to say that some teachers are not disciplined. Some people are not supposed to be teachers in the first place but when you find yourself as a teacher, considering the type of raw materials you deal with, you do not need to be told to hold them (students) like eggs. If a teacher goes to school and for a whole day does not do anything, leaving the students, would he say he has a conscience? It becomes questionable. So, that is why some people find themselves in the job who are not supposed to be there in the first place.
For those who are supposed to be in school and are not there, the monitoring authorities need to sit tight. Do the monitoring authorities do their jobs as should be done? Are they able to buy fuel to monitor as required based on the allowances they receive since the removal of fuel subsidy? So, there are many factors.
Of course, before a teacher matures to be independent-minded to do the job, we must give them proper orientation by way of monitoring and supervision. Before you spend two or three years on the job, you should be familiar with your raw materials and without any supervision, you should be able to discharge your duties with very minimal supervision.
It is a challenge. With the right motivation and by the time this issue of teachers’ stagnation is off, teachers will be more motivated to do their job as it should be done.
Recently, the Federal Government were going back and forth in the legal age for a child to be admitted to the university. What is your take on the issue?
Well! At 16, a child is mature enough to enter the university.
There was also this controversy about scrapping the 6-3-3-4 system. What is your take on this?
Perhaps, that was an eavesdrop from the meeting of a committee. That is not a policy. Let’s take it as a personal opinion expressed by somebody.
On truancy among teachers in rural areas, are there sanctions by the NUT?
Recently, different heads of schools submitted a list of teachers who are lousy and not regular at school. In the secondary school session, most of them were invited to Asaba and they wrote an undertaken. I am also aware that there is what we call the Laxity Form. Henceforth, any teacher who is not as regular as he should be will be made to forego a certain amount from his salary which will go back to the government coffers. We are not encouraging that but that is one of the measures that must be applauded. With that, I am sure that the teachers will sit tight and face their job.
Relying on your earlier submission of being sincere, we would want you to appraise the performance of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori since his assumption of office about 20 months ago.
The Governor as a person cannot be everywhere and that is why he had to appoint some persons as commissioners and aides. As a person, the governor has good ideas but what about his aides? Are they performing their roles as they should be? This affects the generality of governance. In assessing the governor as a person, we agree that he is very competent. But for the aides, do they see their appointments as an opportunity to render service to the populace or do they see their appointments as patronages or empowerments?
The moment they see their appointments as patronages or empowerments, they are always looking for a way to better their lot and not necessarily those they were meant to serve. All these have a cumulative effect on the governance of a state.
For the umpteenth time in this conversation, you have hammered on the need for government appointees to wake up. Now, what is your relationship between the NUT and the Commissioner for Education?
We relate very well on the book value.
And beyond the book value?
In a situation where you submit practical suggestions and the matter ends after discussions…. Then….!
From all indications, the teachers seem to have enjoyed so much in terms of TSA and the increment of service age.
The TSA was an outcome of negotiation. Do not forget that we went on strike that period and the Governors Forum came to negotiate with the NUT before we arrived at something.
Don’t you think the teachers were given an advantage over other civil servants as it concerns the increment of service years?
If you take it as an edge, then what about the lecturers? We want a situation where we can continue to perpetuate a particular tradition. We want old hands. This is controversial but we know that the young ones are thinking of making money than rendering services. So, those who are already used to it and dedicated to service to humanity should continue to render that service.
Do you think a teacher who is about 63 years old can still effectively discharge his or her functions?
How old do you think I am? By the time I finish my service, the first thing I will do is go to the classroom. Despite the fact that I am a principal, I love teaching Physics.
How long do you think you can continue teaching?
For the next 10 years, I can still teach as much as I am healthy.
What is the level of preparation for the next NUT elections which would bring your successor?
Our founding fathers have given us a very solid and transparent way of conducting elections. As for the election, it will be 100 per cent transparent, free and fair. However, if along the line we can resolve among ourselves, Election Day may just be a jamboree because what the teacher wants is someone who can serve them and if there has been a sort of sample of selfless service and sincerity, they will be looking forward to my guidance along the same selfless service. This is what we have been preaching; that they should look among themselves. I will never say it must be a particular candidate.
How many persons have indicated interest in stepping into your shoes?
It is still far but what I can tell you is that we have been able to develop a zoning structure for the positions to the zone to the primary and secondary components of the union. We have resolved that and everybody is satisfied with it.
Is the NUT doing anything to help teachers in the private sector?
We are handicapped to help them because they are in private schools. There was a time we were trying to register their association but because they are in private schools, any outspoken one among them will be sacked by their proprietor. So, what do you do?
Your tenure comes to an end soon. Are you aspiring to go to the national?
Considering the number of years I have left in service, I want to spend it teaching my children. When the time comes, we will sponsor somebody to the national level. Presently, we have the third Vice President but we must improve on that in the next national delegate conference next year. If I cannot go, it doesn’t mean someone from Delta cannot.
