The Governors’ Forum yesterday unanimously agreed to pay a 27.5 percent increment as benchmark to all the teachers in all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Governors though acknowledged the need for payment of “specific allowances” to teachers, however stated that such “teaching inducement allowance” should be implemented for professional teachers only.

They however noted that the Federal Government’s refusal to succumb to the NUT’s demand was due to the “Principle of Federalism”.

The decision was taken in line with the recommendation of the Mamadi Sambo(Kaduna state governor)-led technical committee set up by the Forum and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

They also agreed that the basic salary should be increased “by 27.5 percent in each state as recommended by the technical committee as benchmark” adding that “individual states are to implement same as peculiar to each state.”

On the implementation of the agreement, the Governors urged all state governments to effect the increment as from January 2009 while those who could accommodate it in the supplementary budget should do so without delay.

The resolution was contained in the communiqué which was co-signed by Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State and Governor Mamadi Sambo, who was also the Chairman of the technical committee.

It read: “With due consideration for the budgeting system and fiscal responsibility, where it is possible for a state to accommodate the implementation within the supplementary budget, such a state should do so as soon as practicable otherwise, implementation should be effected no later than January 2009.