Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has promised to raise the salary of primary school teachers from N11,000 to N30,000 minimum wage.

Zulum attributed the low payment to the activities of ghost teachers in the state.

He also declared that no primary school teacher would be retrenched in the ongoing move to improve the standard of primary education in the state.

“One major issue in Borno’s primary education system today is the welfare of teachers. It is pathetic that there are teachers who are still collecting between N11,000 and N13,000. I want to assure that despite economic challenges, we are working to ensure that every qualified teacher in Borno State earns minimum of N30,000 which is the national minimum wage,” the governor said.

Zulum made the declaration on Tuesday while inaugurating the newly-reconstituted Borno State Universal Basic Education Board, which has Prof. Bulama Kagu as Chairman.

Zulum said that a committee is already going round the three senatorial zones screening teachers to ensure that only qualified ones are retained while unqualified ones are given the opportunity to upgrade or redeployed.

“Government is not willing to retrench a single teacher.

“Those that are qualified will be remunerated well and those not qualified will be provided the enabling environment for them to improve their qualification, while those without capacity to study further would be converted to non-academic staff,” Zulum said.

The governor, who reiterated the commitment of his administration to revive education in Borno, said his earlier commitment to recruit more teachers remains secondary until the remuneration of qualified ones are improved to encourage them offer their best.

He tasked the 18-member committee to, among others, formulate guidelines for successful operation of UBE in the state, and ensure effective monitoring of standards.

Zulum also inaugurated the newly-established Borno State Audit Commission under the chairmanship of Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed where he disclosed that the commission is to sanitize the public sector from all forms of financial indiscipline.

He said that the functions of the commission include the determination of administrative structure for the offices of the State Auditor General and that of local government, and the implementation of ethics and code of conduct for auditors as well as ensuring adherence to international audit standards.

The commission is also to handle all matters of recruitment, promotion, dismissal and disciplinary action over staff of the commission and office of Auditor General.

“The commission, in consultation with relevant government agencies, is to determine salaries and other conditions of service of members of the office of Auditor General and the Audit Commission among others,” Zulum said.