EDO, JULY 20, 2018 – Teachers in Edo State have given the state government up to the end of July 2018 to meet up with all their entitlements or be prepared to face the consequences that may follow.
The teachers, in a communiqué at the end of the State Wing Executive Council, SWEC, meeting of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, in Benin City, however called on members to remain calm and await further directives from the leadership.
The communique by Pius Okhueleigbe and Mike Itua, state Chairman and acting Secretary respectively, said if the state government fails to positively address the issues raised, an enlarged/extra-ordinary meeting of SWEC would be convened to take further actions as may be deemed appropriate.
The union lamented the non- implementation of financial benefits of 2013, 2014 and 2015 promotions for primary school teachers since January, 2018, non-implementation of N25,000 minimum wage increases for primary school teachers since May, 2016 and non-payment of 2016/2017 leave transport grant arrears to some primary school teachers.
Other demands include the non-implementation of the already approved extended new nomenclatures for primary school teachers in the state, non- provision of subventions to public primary and secondary schools since year 2012, non-release of 2016/2017 promotions for public primary and secondary school teachers and inadequate teaching personnel in public primary and secondary schools which it said had rendered teaching and learning ineffective in schools.
The union, however, commended the state government for the prompt payment of teachers monthly salaries, payment of leave transport grant at point of entry, release of promotions up to 2015, restoration of annual incremental credits, payment of substantial amount as arrears of retired teachers pensions and investment in the upgrade of primary education through Edo Best programme.
