Public primary and secondary schools have reopened in Akwa Ibom following the suspension of the one-week strike embarked upon by teachers over the non-payment of their entitlements including leave grants, promotion arrears and the appointment of teachers as permanent secretaries.
The teachers went on strike following the alleged refusal of the state government to address their grievances which included the recurring issue of payment of gratuities for the next of kin of teachers who have died while in service.
Though the state government had earlier set up a committee to address the demands of the teachers, it was not clear why the recommendations were not implemented until the teachers went on strike again.
Announcing the suspension of the strike, Edet Emenyi and Victor Amirize, chairman and secretary of the state branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) said in a statement made available to the media that they have reached an understanding with the state government.
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According to them, the understanding reached to include the immediate commencement of payments of leave grants for 2017 and 2018, the immediate of one-month minimum wage arrears to primary school teachers and the appointment of a committee comprising government representatives to dialogue on the “template for the instalment payment of 1019, 2020 and 2021 leave grants to primary school teachers.’’
Others include “payment of 7.5% contributory pension refunds to teachers as soon as records are reconciled and other issues listed in the strike bulletin.”
“Teachers in primary and secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State are hereby directed to resume normal academic activities from Monday, 21st March 2022,’’ the statement said.
