Edo teachers give govt 21-day ultimatum over unresolved promotion, others

Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has given the state government 21- day ultimatum to resolve all contentious promotion and other matters.

State chairman, Pius Okhueleigbe and acting secretary, Moni Mike Modesty- Itua, stated this in a nine-point communiqué in in Benin City.

It threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if it fails to meet its demands.

The union said the ultimatum became necessary following the expiration of 45 days grace period, which allowed the state government to engage in mutual resolution of the issues on ground.

The union warned that teachers in public schools in the state would embark on indefinite strike to press home their demands.

It said: “The SWEC agreed that the union had unimaginably cooperated with the state government in all positive fronts to move the education sector to higher heights.

“But the government has refused to act in utmost good faith by reciprocating the good gestures of teachers in the state.”

The teachers called for implementation of the 2013 to 2015 primary school teachers’ promotions as approved by the state government, with the accompanying arrears.

It also wants the immediate implementation of the approved N25, 000 minimum wage to all primary school teachers, as approved in May 2016.

They also demanded the immediate provision of subvention funds to both primary and secondary schools across the state.

The union lamented that teachers in public schools have been using their merger salaries to provide instructional materials like chalk, markers, diaries, and register since 2012.

It urged the government to meet all the demands in August payroll with all the arrears.

The union decried the lack of manpower personnel in public schools, and urged the government to commence the process of recruiting about 9,000 in primary schools and new 3, 000 teachers in secondary schools before the next academic session slated for September.