Victor Ahiuma-Young
17 July 2008
Lagos — WORKERS of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), have condemned alleged government insensitivity to ongoing teachers' strike which has forced our pupils of both public primary and secondary out of schools for over two weeks, and threatened to embark on solidarity strike in support of the teachers should government continue to feel less concerned.
Teachers under the umbrella of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has for over two been on strike to force government to implement Teachers Salary Structure (TSS).
The PHCN workers under the umbrella of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), are warning that they could no longer tolerate a situation where children of the poor are forced out of the public schools and government feels unconcerned because children of top government official and political office holders are either in abroad or in private schoos.
A statement by NUEE's General Secretary, Comrade Joe Ajaero read in part: "We are indeed touched that the impasse between the Federal Government and the Teachers had to degenerate to the level of the later eventually embarking on Nationwide indefinite Strike Action.
It is sordid to understand that a supposed Great Nation like ours should allow the interests, mental and physical development of her future leaders to be sacrificed on the alter of political intrigues.
We are yet to come to terms with what the Government is positing as reason for foot dragging on dispensing off this important national critical issue even after the, three (3) days warning strike by the Teachers.
What is more worrisome is the fact that it is the children of the poor, the dreg of the society that are affected. May be that informed the Government insensitivity to the plight of Teachers, since children of the political class and the rich have nothing to do with Public Schools. Their children and wards are in Private and Foreign Schools. Teaching, a noble profession is a social service just like ours of Rational Union of Electricity Employees."
"The Teachers need to be encouraged to teach, protect, procure and secure the future of our children. The present salary they receive cannot carry them for a week and yet we expect so much from them,
It Is impossible. We must invest to ensure qualitative education of our children and wards. There should be no short cut in academic education process, In the light of the above, we urge the Federal Government under the leadership of President Umar Yar' Adua and his Vice (Former Teachers) to ensure immediate resolution of the impasse by way of acceding to the demands of the Teachers.
Our position is predicated on the fact that we cannot be happy in continuous delivery of effective and efficient services to the Nation While our children and wards roast at home and their future We may be forced to, languish with our children at home while the indefinite Strike Action lasts.
The President should realize the catastrophic effect of leading a Nation without Schools."
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