The Commissioner, Nasarawa State Ministry of Education, Haj. Fatu Jemaita Sabo, says on Wednesday that the state government would commence the payment of salaries of 2,250 newly employed teachers this month.

This, the commissioner said was to ensure optimal productivity,enhance standard of education and to improve on the lives of the newly employed teachers.

Sabo disclosed this when the ministry appeared before the House Committee on Education to assess their 2020 budget performance in Lafia on Wednesday.

The commissioner said that Gov. Abdullahi Sule’s administration has given topmost priority to the education sector for improved standard of education through its various educational policies and programmes.

When asked on when tertiary institutions are resuming in the state, the commissioner revealed that education and empowerment sub- committee on COVID-19 and leadership of the tertiary institutions in the state have already met with the state task force committee on COVID-19 and all presentations and proposals on resumption have been made and presented to the deputy governor.

She added that the ministry is awaiting directive from the state government and hopely in the next one to two weeks, higher institutions in the state will resume.

Responding, Hon Daniel Ogazi, the Chairman of the committee said that the invitation extended to the ministry was to assess their 2020 budget performance.

Ogazi (APC-Kokona East) said that the committee would continue to give the ministry and the state government the necessary support in order to ensure better and improved standard of education in the state.

” We will continue to do our best in ensuring quality and improved standard of education in the state,” he said.

The committee commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for ensuring prompt payment of salaries of civil servants in the state and make a similar case for tertiary institutions in the state.

It would be reported that issue of delay in salaries of lecturers of tertiary institutions in the state was also brought forward and the need for state government to expedite the process of taking over their payments was also extensively discussed.

Meantime, the management of Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia appeared before the committee for the school’s 2020 budget performance assessment.

Mrs Justina Kotso, the Rector of the Polytechnic, who was represented by Engr. Obande Jonathan, Dean of Studies appealed to the state government for prompt payment of salaries and gratituties of lecturers.

Also, Alhaji Abdullahi Abu Galadima, the Chairman, Nasarawa State Teachers Service Commission along side other members of the commission also appeared before the committee for the commission’s 2020 budget performance assessment where the committee expressed happiness with their performance.