Lagos — THE Monitoring Group (IMG) has thrown its weight behind Nigerian teachers over their disagreement with the Federal Government.

In a statement signed by Comrade Andrew Elijah, IMG Chief of Staff on behalf of the coordinator of Ijaw Monitoring Group Comrade Joseph Evah, the group stated that the teachers' strike is a national disgrace that should have been avoided, adding that the fact that Yar'Adua could not stop the strike and satisfy the teachers clearly portray his govt as insensitive to the plight of the citizens.

According to IMG: "President Yar'Adua told us he was a teacher and even his vice was also a teacher. Why can't they deal with their own constituency, the problem of the teaching profession? Should teachers abandon the classroom and carry briefcase to join politics like them?

"While teachers are crying for survival, our president is roaming about the world enjoying the sweet things of life. We condemn the agony of teachers in Nigeria, pay them their dues and save our children", the statement said.

The group warned that government insensitivity to every sector of Nigerian life is a threat to democracy in the country.

The group called on the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, meet the needs of the teachers and ensure immediate resumption of classes in public schools.