By Osahon Osahon
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Godwin Obaseki to resolve all matters relating to welfare of teachers in the state or face strike from aggrieved teachers across the state.
NUT accused the Governor Obaseki-led government of reneging on some demands which he had earlier agreed to meet in July this year.
The ultimatum was contained in a letter addressed to the state governor where it reminded Obaseki to address certain unfulfilled outstanding welfare and conditions of service for teachers in the state.
The letter dated 23 November, 2020 was signed by Pius Okhueleigbe and Mike Moni Modesty Itua, state chairman and secretary respectively.
It lamented that pending issues of teachers’ welfare and condition of service discussed and decided upon with the Governor on the 17 July 2020, are yet to be addressed by the government.
According to the letter, the leadership of the union is seeking an audience with the governor Obaseki either on Thursday, or Friday this week, noting that the meeting will go a long way in providing lasting solution to the issues raised, as well as averting the looming industrial action.
Among the seven demands by the teachers are the non-payment and incomplete payment of 2013 to 2015 promotion arrears of primary school teachers in Oredo, Orhionmwon and Uhunwonde Local Government Areas.
Others are non-implementation of 2016 to 2018 Promotion of primary school teachers in payrolls since August 2020.
The letter also explained that the teachers were denied their promition arrears, while those omitted from the exercise have not been considered.
Others are non release of 2019 Teachers promotions by SUBEB for four months after the state governor’s approval.
The letter read in part: “Non-payment of Edo-BEST Training stipends of 2018 and 2019 to about two thousand Teachers who participated in the program.
“Non-remittance of the lawfully deducted schools monthly subvention from the account of local government councils to school heads from April 2020 till date and delay in the payment of teachers’ monthly salarie.”
Meanwhile, the Esan north-east local government chapter of the NUT, has also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Acting Education Secretary, local government education authority, Oseghale Mary, to reverse the deployment and subsequent demotion of one Ikiakhele Agatha, the head teacher of Efandion primary school in the locality.
The ultimatum was contained in apetition signed by Oriere Duba, NUT chairman of the local government, secretary, Eyonse Martins and two others, and addressed to the state executive of the union and state chairman of Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Benin City.
The petition noted that teachers in the locality will not fail to embark on strike if the Acting Education Secretary of the local government education authority fails to reverse the deployment and demolition of the head teacher.
