Makurdi — THE Benue State government has threatened to sack striking secondary school teachers in the state whom it accused of embarking on an illegal industrial action to press home demands for 27.5 per cent increment in salaries.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the state executive council meeting in Makurdi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Dr. Cletus Akwaya disclosed that the government was ready to wield the big stick on defiant teachers.

Akwaya said the executive council took the decision following its exhaustive debate on the issue after having received a comprehensive briefing from the Commissioner for Education, Mr. Benjamin Ashaver.

The Adviser said the government was of the opinion that it had no trade dispute with secondary school teachers in the state, hence the action by the teachers was unjustifiable and irrational.

The government, therefore, directed all secondary school teachers in the state to "report at their duty posts with immediate effect and School Principals are to take note of this directive."

Teachers were advised to heed the directive as failure to comply would be met with stiff penalties.

AKwaya said: "Failure on the part of the teachers to comply with the directive, all necessary rules will be enforced by the government."