By Okhide Em’ya David
Fresh industrial crisis looms in Edo State as the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has threatened to embark on strike if the state government fails to address its outstanding welfare allowance and conditions of service.
The teachers, in a letter addressed to the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, dated November 23, 2020 said failure by the state government to fulfil its pending demands may likely result to industrial disharmony in the education sector.
The letter was signed by the state chairman of the union, Pius Okhueleigbe and Mike Moni Modesty Itua, State Secretary.
They noted that pending issues of teachers’ welfare and condition of service discussed and decided with the state Governor on the July 17, 2020 are yet to be addressed by the government.
They however said the leadership of the union is seeking an audience with the state governor on Thursday, December 3 or Friday, the 4th of December 2020, adding that the meeting will go a long way in providing lasting solutions to the issues raised as well as averting the looming industrial action.
The NUT officials listed seven points demands which the state government was yet to address to include: non- payment and incomplete payment of 2013 to 2015 promotion arrears of primary school teachers in Oredo, Orhionmwon and Uhunwonde Local Government Areas.
Also demanded by the teachers is non-implementation of 2016 to 2018 Promotion of primary school teachers in payrolls since August 2020.
They explained that the teachers were also denied of their arrears as per promotion while those omitted from the exercise have not been considered.
Others are non release of 2019 teachers’ promotions by SUBEB for four months after the state governor’s approval.
“Non-payment of Edo- BEST Training stipends of 2018 and 2019 to about two thousand Teachers who participated in the program.
“Non-remittance of the lawfully deducted schools monthly subvention from the account of Local Government Councils to School Heads from April 2020 till date and delay in the payment of Teachers monthly salaries among others,” they added.
Meanwhile, the Esan North-East local government chapter of the union has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Acting Education Secretary, local government education authority, Oseghale Mary to reverse the deployment and subsequent demotion of one Ikiakhele Agatha, the head teacher of Efandion primary school in the locality.
A petition signed by Oriere Duba, NUT chairman of the local government, secretary, Eyonse Martins and two others was addressed to the state executive of the union and state chairman of Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Benin City.
The union said teachers in the locality will not fail to embark on strike if the Acting Education Secretary of the local government education authority fails to reverse the deployment and demotion of the head teacher.
