Chris Ochayi
11 July 2008
Abuja — The Federal Government yesterday bowed to the pressure from the striking teachers when it entered dialogue with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Wednesday in Abuja.
This development signalled a major summersault of the government's position on the industrial action, as at a meeting Tuesday foreclosed further possibility of having dialogue with the NUT over the ongoing teachers' strike.
According to a statement signed by Salisu Na'inna Dambatta in the office of the Secretary to the government of the Federation (SGF), the new dialogue comprises representatives of the Federal Government and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) with a view to resolving the industrial action.
According to the statement, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe is leading the Federal Government team which comprises the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Ministers of Education and Labour. The Secretary General of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr. Obong Ikpe Obong is leading the NUT team. The President and Secretary General of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) attended the meeting as observers.
"The SGF said shortly after adjourning the meeting Wednesday night that the issues involved in the industrial action by teachers were discussed and a way forward charted".
"I believe that we have arrived at a forum of engagement and understanding of the issues involved and we have charted a way forward, a road map, which I believe will result in a resolution of the ongoing strike", he said,
The statement further quoted the SGF as saying that, "the result of the initial dialogue would be reported to the government, adding, "we are conscious of the need to act very quickly to bring this industrial action to an end so that the schools can resume".
It also said the Secretary General of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr. Obong Ikpe Obong expressed appreciation that the government has seen the need to engage the union in a dialogue and that both sides were aware that Nigerians were looking forward to an end of the strike.
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