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Nigeria: FG Moves to Stop Teachers' Strike
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Leadership (Abuja)
26 June 2008
Posted to the web 26 June 2008
Golu Timothy
Abuja
At last, relief is on the way for the Nigerian teachers as the Federal Government yesterday took steps to find a lasting solution to the ongoing industrial impasse, which has paralysed the educational sub-sector for sometime now.
This is coming as the Federal Executive Council also approved N331.82 million to the Ministry of Health for the completion of laboratory complex at the Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja.
As a mark of commitment to the teachers plight, government has began constructive engagement with the aggrieved teachers by commencing wide consultation with various stakeholders in order to stop the nationwide planned strike by teachers in the country. Minister of Information and Communications, John Odey told state house correspondents at the end of yesterday's Federal Executive Council meeting, that in view of the delicate nature of the issues involved, the Federal Government cannot take a unilateral decision on the matter.
Teachers in the country has on Tuesday suspended their planned strike to await the outcome of the Federal Executive Council meeting, after which members of the NUT were directed to go on an indefinite strike if nothing concrete came out of the meeting.
However, at the end of the meeting yesterday, Odey said the government was taking the matter very seriously and is therefore reaching out to the teachers to exercise patients.
"The Federal Government is taking the issue very seriously and consultation is going on with all stake holders. The minister of Education has been directed to liaise with the secretary to the government of the federation and other stake holders to ensure an amicable solution.
The minister further said it was beyond the Federal Government to fix salaries for primary and secondary school teachers when it is outside its purview.
Another decision taken by the Council was the approval of a contract for the completion of a laboratory complex at the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu, Abuja at the cost of N331.8million The approval according to Odey, is as a result of the essential nature of the institution in the area of research. The construction work which was in favour of Messrs Atidolf Nigeria Ltd is to be completed within 24 weeks. The construction of the laboratory complex which is the centre for various pharmaceutical research works commenced in 1993 and was abandoned in September 1996 on the excuse of lack of fund.
The construction work is a five story block laboratory office space, library and conference hall.
Odey further said the Council decided to embark on the completion of the project in line with the present administration's policy of completing every abandoned project. He also said that the significance of the institution to the expansion of services especially in the area of control measures in the prevention of sickle cell anaemia, malaria, etc, the council had no choice but to approve the contract.
The centre according to the minister has provided a lot of control measures in the prevention of various diseases in the country. He noted that the through research conducted at the centre, a lot of control measures have been instituted in the prevention of sickle cell anaemia, malaria, hypertension, diabetes etc.
Odey further said that scope of works required for completion of the laboratory complex include replacing the roof covering, that was blown away by storm, plastering, metal and structure steel works, furnishing, external works, glazing, painting, decorating laboratory fittings and fixtures, passengers lift etc.
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Earlier, the new Head of the Service of the Federation, Mrs Ama Pepple was sworn in before the commencement of the meeting yesterday.
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