Teachers in Edo state to begin indefinite strike

Following the expiration of the twenty-one-day unresponsive ultimatum issued to the state government, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Edo State chapter said that it will commence an indefinite strike on Friday.

In a statement made available to journalists in Benin on Tuesday and signed by the state Chairman, Pius Okhueleigbe, and acting Secretary, Mr Moni Modesty, the union alleged that the government had failed to meet the teachers’ demand for improved welfare.

The Commissioner for Education, Mr Emmanuel Agbale, could not be reached for comments as he neither responded to calls and a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.

The union had in August demanded the financial implementation of the 2013 to 2015 promotion of primary school teachers, with the arrears of January to July 2018, and the immediate implementation of the approved N25, 000 minimum wage to all primary school teachers.

It had argued that the wage approval given by the immediate past governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, in May 2016, was for the benefit of all workers in the state.

It further urged the state government to begin the recruitment of new teachers to fill the vacant positions in primary and secondary schools before the commencement of the next academic session in September.

It, therefore, urged all well-meaning citizens to prevail on the state government to urgently meet the demands of the union in order to avert the imminent “darkness that is about to envelop the education sector in the state.”