The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has taken a firm stand against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), setting a two-day ultimatum to release the salaries of certain teachers by Friday.
NAGRAT asserts that the Office has withheld the salaries of over 400 teachers, prompting concerns and demands for swift action. The Association contends that the Office’s explanation, citing an investigation into ghost names on the government’s payroll, does not suffice as justification for withholding salaries.
Despite the Office’s ongoing probe, NAGRAT President Angel Karbonu emphasizes the importance of due process, arguing that salary freezes should only occur upon conclusive audit findings. Karbonu asserts that withholding salaries without conclusive evidence of wrongdoing is unjust and risks imposing undue hardship on affected teachers.
In response to the impasse, Karbonu issued a warning during an interview on NewsNite, stressing that if the Office of the Special Prosecutor fails to release the frozen salaries by the specified deadline of Friday, February 16, 2024, NAGRAT will explore alternative measures to address the situation.
The ultimatum underscores NAGRAT’s determination to uphold the rights and welfare of its members, signaling a readiness to escalate the matter if necessary to ensure timely resolution and justice for affected teachers.
He [Special Prosecutor] has not finished prosecuting people who have been given bribes in elections and things like that, it is not poor teachers that he is coming to zero in on,
If he does not defreeze the salaries by Friday, he will have to be blamed for whatever happens after Friday, he remarked.
