Friday, November 14, 2014

Osun Teachers Commence Strike in Nigeria
Nigerian Union of Teachers in Edo state.
by BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA
Nigeria National Mirror
Nov 14, 2014

Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Osun State chapter, yesterday said its members in primary and secondary schools have commenced a three-day warning strike to protest nonpayment of running and examination grants to secondary schools for an academic session.

It will be recalled that the union had about two weeks ago handed down a 14-day ultimatum to the state government to pay the allowances owed its members or risk industrial unrest.

However, a statement issued in Osogbo by the Principal Secretary, NUT, Osun State wing, Comrade Muhammed Abdulahi, listed the grievances of the union as; non-provision of instructional materials like chalks, school registers and textbooks, nonpayment of leave grants to secondary school teachers since December 2013, and nonpayment of examination grants to primary schools for the past six terms.

The statement said lack of basic needs by schools across the state has hindered “effective performance of teachers in the classroom,” adding that principals and head-teachers have been running the schools with their salaries.

The NUT also advised members not to panic but to remain calm and lawabiding as they await further directive on expiration of the warning strike.

While calling on government to urgently look into their demands to avert indefinite strike that could mar its education agenda in the state, it explained that NUT had been considerate in its approach to the matter.

When contacted for reaction, the Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Education, Mr Lawrence Oyeniran, called on teachers to remain calm, assuring that the government would do its best within the limited resources to meet their demands.

He attributed the crisis to the dwindling allocation from federal government.

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