Edo teachers give govt 14-day ultimatum to meet demands

Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has given the state government a 14-day ultimatum to meet its demand and pay up all outstanding entitlements.

The teachers in a communiqué issued at the end of the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting held recently, however, charged members of the union to remain calm and await further directive from the leadership.

State Chairman, Pius Osikhena Okhueleigbe and Acting Secretary, Moni Mike Modesty Itua, who signed the communiqué, said if government fails to address the issue raised, it would convene an extra-ordinary meeting of the SWEC to take appropriate action.

It lamented non-implementation of financial benefits of 2013, 2014 and 2015 promotions to primary school teachers since January 2018, non-implementation of N25,000 minimum wage increase for primary school teachers since May, 2016 and non-payment of 2016/2017 leave transport arrears to some primary school teachers.

They are seeking the implementation of the already approved extended new nomenclatures for primary school teachers in the state, provision of subventions to public primary and secondary schools in the state since year 2012 and release of 2016/2017 promotions of teachers.

Other demands are the provision of adequate teaching personnel in public primary and secondary schools in the state, which has rendered teaching and learning ineffective in schools.

The union, however, commended the state government for the prompt payment of teachers’ monthly salaries, payment of leave transport grant at the point of entry and release of promotions up to 2015.

It also lauded the state government for the restoration of annual incremental credits, payment of substantial amount as arrears of retired teachers pensions and investment in the upgrade of primary education through the Edo Best Programme (EBP).