The Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has directed 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 communiqué issued at the end of its enlarged State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting in Benin City on Tuesday, January 12, signed by Pius Okhueleigbe, state chairman, Moni Mike Modesty Itua, assistant secretary general, and three others.
It added that the order to embark on indefinite strike was as a result of the failure of the state government to meet its 10-point age-long demands after the expiration of the 21-day and 14-day ultimatums earlier issued to the state government.
“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 (early morning) of Monday 18th January, 2021, and ensure that all teaching and learning tools in their possessions are completely put in ‘off-mode’,” the communiqué said.
While commending 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 interventionist attempts, the council expressed dismay over the glaring and persistent nonchallant attitude of the state government by not initiating attempts at meeting with the union during the period of the ultimatums to dialogue on the issues.
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It urged all parents to keep their children and wards away from schools throughout the period of the indefinite strike.
It also advised 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 called on all lovers of education, well-meaning citizens and institutions in the state to prevail on the state government to meet the demands of the union.
Recall that the union had on December 8 and December 29, 2020 issued a 21-day and 14-day ultimatum to the state government to meet and fulfill all its financial and other entitlements to it.
Some of the demands of the union include payment of the 2013 to 2015 promotion arrears of teachers in Oredo, Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode local government areas.
Others are reinforcement and guarantee 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.
