By Okhide Em’ya David
A fresh industrial unrest will hit Education sector in Edo State next week following directive by the Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), to all primary school teachers and school heads to embark on an indefinite strike as from Monday, January 18, 2021.
The union’s directive was contained in a communique issued at the end of an enlarged State Wing Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday January 12, 2021 in Benin City.
The communique signed by NUT Edo State Chairman Comrade Pius Okhueleigbe, assistant secretary general, Moni Mike Modesty Itua, and three other too officials said the order to embark on indefinite strike was occasioned by Government’s failure to meet its 10-points long-age demands.
NUT observed that the strike also follows expiration of the 21-day and 14-day ultimatum earlier issued to the state government.
The Union’s words: “All public primary School-Heads and teachers in the eighteen local government areas of Edo State should unfailingly embark on an indefinite strike action from 12:00 am of Monday 18th January, 2021 and ensure that all teaching and learning tools in their possessions are completely put in off-mode.”
The Edo NUT commended the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) committee on education, Controller of Labour, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for their interventions but expressed dismay over “the glaring and persistent non-challant attitude of the state government towards meeting with the union during the period of the ultimatums to dialogue on the issues”.
The Union asked Parents and Guardians to keep their children and wards away from schools throughout the period of the indefinite strike, and warned school heads and parents to disregard any form of propaganda, blackmail, announcements, pronouncements and intimidation against the “lawful decisions” of the union for the period of the strike from any quarter.
The union, however, called on all lovers of education, well-meaning citizens and institutions in the state to prevail on the Edo state government to meet the demands of the union.
It would be recalled that the union had on December 8 and December 29, 2020 issued 21-day and 14-day ultimatum to the state government to meet and fulfill all its financial and other obligations to its members including payment of the 2013 to 2015 promotion arrears of teachers in Oredo, Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode local government areas.
Others are reinforcement and guarantee of the payment of primary school teachers monthly salaries, on or before the 27th day of every month as already directed by the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, correct implementation of the 30 percent Special Allowance for Teachers in schools for challenged children and all arrears paid among others.
