Primary school teachers give Obaseki 14-day strike notice

Edo State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has issued a 14-day strike notice to the state government, saying its decision was necessitated by failure to meet its financial obligations and settle other entitlements.

The Guardian recalled that the union had on December 8, 2020 given the state government 21-day ultimatum to fulfill all its promises or it would embark on an indefinite industrial action.

The communiqué announcing the 14-day strike notice, dated December 29, 2020, signed by state Chairman, Pius Okhueleigbe, Assistant General Secretary, Moni Mike Modesty and four others, was made available to newsmen in Benin City yesterday.

In the communiqué, the union noted that the 14-day ultimatum, which took effect from Tuesday, December 29, 2020, was to enable the Edo State government to meet the union’s demands.

It said the decision was taken at the union’s enlarged state wing executive council meeting held on December 29, 2020, adding: “The union observed that Edo State government has not taken any tangible step aimed at meeting the union’s demands during the 21-day ultimatum.

“It resolved that the Edo Best Programme needs a review to determine its true state of health to enable the government to correct the seeming window-dressing and improve the programme. It also agreed that the contributory pension scheme started in 2017 in Edo State.

“It however, observed that if primary school teachers are to enroll, the tier government that will be responsible for the monthly remittance of 10 per cent to the teachers’ pension account should have the resources to do so and cater for the accrued gratuity entitlements of teachers prior to the commencement of the scheme, as provided in the law,” the communique said.

It however, urged the primary school teachers in the state to continue to mobilise for an indefinite strike action while awaiting further directives on takeoff date from the state wing executive.