Onwuka Nzeshi
10 June 2008
Abuja — The Federal Government yesterday said it was prepared to dialogue with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) over the threat by the latter to embark on a three day warning strike in furtherance of their demand for the implementation of the new Teachers Salary Structure (TSS).
The move by the government followed fears expressed by the National Examinations Council (NECO) that the warning strike will disrupt the conduct of its examinations in secondary schools across the country.
Also, Senate Committee on Education yesterday endorsed teachers' demand for a Teachers' Salary Scale (TSS), but opposed the proposed strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), saying it would be counterproductive to the education sector.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Joy Emodi spoke in an interview yesterday ahead of the strike billed to start to tomorrow.
She urged the NUT to withdraw the notice of strike, as according to her, "the ultimate victims will be the children of the poor Nigerians."
According to her, "The Committee has already scheduled an interactive session with the NUT and other stakeholders with a view to addressing the issues at stake."
Minister of Education, Dr. Igwe Aja-Nwachuku is expected to meet with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) this afternoon to deliberate on their grievances and explore ways to avert the industrial action due to commence tomorrow.
Chief Press Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Alphonsus Okoroafor who gave the hint of the proposed parley between the government and the angry teachers said the meeting would be a follow up to an earlier meeting held by both parties last week.
Nineteen State Chapters of the Nigeria Union of Teachers' (NUT) had over the weekend, endorsed the resolution of the National Executive Council of their union to embark on a three day warning strike in protest over the apparent refusal of the Federal Government to implement the special remuneration package known as the Teachers' Salary Scale for the teachers.The warning strike slated for Wednesday (next tomorrow) is a prelude to their planned nationwide strike.
The chapters which held an emergency congress in Abuja under the auspices of Arewa Coordinating Committee of the NUT called on teachers in both public and private schools in the 19 states and Abuja to stay away from the classrooms from Wednesday through to Friday, and be ready for a full-blown strike should government do nothing before the expiration of the 21 day ultimatum handed down by the national body about a week ago..
Chairman of the Committee, Comrade Garba Ngamdu, said that teachers in the northern part of the country were ready for a protracted strike that would last for as long as the government remained adamant to meeting the demands of the primary and secondary school teachers in the country.
Ngamdu, who is also the Chairman of the NUT, Borno State chapter, described as unfortunate the statement credited to the Minister of Education, Dr. Igwe Aja-Nwachuku that strike had become obsolete, adding that the Nigeria Union of Teachers will tolerate any attempt by anybody to sabotage the union's decision under any guise.
He urged all teachers in the 19 Northern states to answer the clarion call of the union by joining their counterparts in other parts of the country in the warning strike as well as the full-blown strike scheduled to follow at the expiration of the 21 day ultimatum..
"All professional teachers working in various educational institutions in the North should equally participate in the planned actions in whichever way possible, as this struggle is not just for salaries, but for the noble and ancient profession of teaching," Ngamdu stated.
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