Governor Godwin Obaseki

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Edo state chapter, has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government to pay all outstanding entitlements of its members, improve their condition of services, or face industrial action.

The union in a 10-point communique at the end of its enlarged meeting in Benin City, said the ultimatum takes effect from Tuesday, December 8, 2020.

The communiqué which was signed by Pius Okhueliegbe, state chairman, Moni Mike Itua, Assistant Secretary General and three others respectively, decried the seeming non-nonchalant attitude of Edo state government to genuinely address the union’s age-long demands.

It noted that SWEC-in-session in its December 8, 2020, enlarged meeting, deliberated on issues of education, teachers’ welfare, conditions of service, entitlements and disciplinary matters in Edo State, as well as the actions and inactions of the state government and some of its managers of education.

“During the pain-staking deliberations SWEC- in- session  noted with utmost dismay, the seeming non-nonchalant attitude of Edo state government to genuinely address the union’s age long demands and appeals of the union on matters that are of rights.

“Specifically, it was very glaring that the demands and appeals made, both diplomatically and through collective bargaining processes in the past by the union were still not attended to by the government.

“The SWEC-in-session also carried out an appraisal of the high handedness and reckless use of official powers on primary school heads and teachers by Edo SUBEB and its officials in the state vis-a-vis the happening in Esan North-East local government area between the Acting Education  Secretary of the local government and members of the union,” the communiqué said.

It listed some of the demands to include the  payment of 2013 to 2015 promotion arrears of teachers in Oredo, Oehionnwon and Uhunmwode local governments, full  implementation of the 30 percent Special Allowance for teachers in schools for challenged children and payment of all arrears.

Also demanded for was the reinforcement and guaranteed payment of primary school teachers monthly salaries, on or before the 27th day of every month as already directed by the governor of Edo State.

Others are payment of all schools monthly subventions deducted and remitted to the coffers of SUBEB by the 18 local government councils since April 2020 till date to school heads for the administration of their schools.