Unpaid allowances: Edo teachers threaten strike

Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers has threatened to go on strike if the state government fails to pay their outstanding welfare allowances and improve the condition of service.

The teachers, in a letter dated November 23, 2020, and signed by the state chairman of the union, Pius Okhueleigbe, and State Secretary, Comrade Mike Itua, and addressed to Governor Godwin Obaseki said failure by the state government to attend to the demands of the teachers may likely result to industrial action.

Itua noted that pending issues of teachers’ welfare and condition of service discussed and agreed with the Governor on July 17, 2020, were yet to be addressed by the government.

The NUT secretary-general noted that the leadership of the union wants to meet with the state governor on December 3 or December 4.

He added that the meeting would go a long way in providing lasting solutions to the issues raised as well as avert the looming industrial action.

He listed seven points demands which the state government was yet to address to include, non- payment and incomplete payment of 2013 to 2015 promotion arrears of primary school teachers in Oredo, Orhionmwon, and Uhunwonde Local Government Areas.

Also demanded by the teachers are non-implementation of 2016 to 2018 Promotion of primary school teachers in payrolls since August 2020. Punch