Gov. Makinde Urged to Intervene as Reinstated TESCOM Teachers Reject Grade Level 9 Placement

…Aggrieved teachers say state is denying them deserved promotions despite 2016 court ruling

…As disengaged TESCOM teachers demand justice over promotion arrears

A group of teachers who were recruited by the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) in 2005 have raised concerns over what they describe as unfair treatment regarding their reinstatement and career progression.

The teachers were verbally disengaged from service in 2006, barely a year after their recruitment, without any formal communication or justifiable reason.

Following a protracted legal battle, they secured a court judgment in July 2016 in their favor, a judgment which, they point out, has not been appealed or overturned to date.

In July 2022, the current administration Oyo State reinstated the affected teachers.

However, the reinstatement came with a condition: they were required to sign an agreement forfeiting any claims to salary arrears accrued during their period of disengagement.

The teachers now allege that while they agreed to relinquish salary arrears, there was no clause in the agreement that mandated the forfeiture of promotion arrears.

According to the leader of the aggrieved teachers, Mrs Bola Folarin, acclaimed Governor Seyi Makinde’s Class-mate alleged that recent actions by Oyo State TESCOM, specifically the issuance of a fresh appointment letter dated 2023 and duplicate promotion letters placing them on Grade Level 9, appear to be an attempt to reclassify them alongside newly recruited teachers from 2023.

“We view this as a deliberate attempt to deny us our rightful promotion benefits and seniority,” one of the teachers said.

“After 20 years since our initial recruitment, we should be on Grade Level 15 by now, in line with our years of service.”

She called on the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to urgently address the issue, emphasizing their commitment to continue serving the state’s educational sector but insisting that their rights must be respected.