By Okhide Em’ya David
Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has issued the State Government an additional fourteen day-ultimatum to enable it meet the demands of Teachers warning that failure to do so will lead to an indefinite strike action.
The additional fourteen day-ultimatum is contained in a communique issued at the end of an enlarged State Executive Council meeting and signed by the Edo state Chairman of the Union Mr. Pius Okhueleigbe as well as Assistant Secretary General, Mr. Mike Moni among others.
The Communique stated that Edo State Government has not taken any tangible step to meet the ten point- demands of the Union during the earlier twenty one day ultimatum issued on the 8th of December, 2020.
The Communique added that “the possibilities of primary schools teachers enrolling in the Edo State proposed Contributory Pensionary Scheme will only be determined by the ability of the tier of Government that will be responsible for the monthly contribution of 10% to teachers Pension Accounts to have the Resources and the readiness to pay it’s portion”.
“The tier of Government must also cater for the accrued gratuities to be associated with the Scheme to primary school teachers as and when due” the Communique added .
The Union observed that the Edo BEST program under the SUBEB needs urgent surgical operation to determine its true State of health so that the Government will be able to correct abnormalities associated with it.
NUT condemned in strong terms kidnapping of Edo State Head of Service, Mr Anthony Okungbowa and killing of his Driver by dare-devil bandits, noting that the Union’s earlier decision on the removal of the Acting Education Secretary of Esan North East Local Education Authority still stands and therefore declared her “Persona non grata.”
Edo NUT called on Teachers to continue to mobilize for an indefinite strike action while awaiting further affirmative directives on take off date from the State Wing Executive Council if the Government fails to meet their demands .
