Port Harcourt — Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has opposed recent call to grant autonomy to local government councils in the country, saying such could delay payment of teachers salaries and other entitlements.

Chairman of the union in the state, Comrade Moses Adiela, in an interview with Daily Trust in Port Harcourt, said, "If states like Abia and Plateau are still owing their primary school teachers arrears of salaries, I wonder what will be the fate of teachers across the country if payment of salaries are left in the hands of local government councils".

He said until the overall interest and welfare of teachers are clearly defined in the constitution, qualitative education will continue to elude Nigerian students.

Adiela suggested the creation of a national primary education commission, which he said would be tasked with the welfare of teachers. He added that the commission should be constitutionally empowered to deduct teachers' salaries from source and pay directly to them.

He pleaded with the various levels of government to grant imprest to teachers to enable them handle and manage schools, adding that such will help to check unauthorized levying of students.