FG, teachers in crucial talks - Over planned nationwide teachers strike

From Clement Idoko, Soji-Eze Fagbemi, Sulaimon Olanrewaju
and Kunle Awosiyan - 24.06.2008

FOLLOWING what it described as the adamant posture of the Federal Government, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) will today in Abuja hold an emergency meeting on its plan to shut down both private and public primary and post-primary schools in the country.

The NUT may also meet with a government delegation today over the crisis.

The emergency meeting is coming on the heels of the expiration today of the additional seven-day ultimatum given by the union last week to the Federal Government to release the circular effecting the implementation of the Teachers’ Salary Structure (TSS).

The teachers had a fortnight ago embarked on a three-day industrial action that paralysed the nation’s primary and post-primary institutions, including suspension of National Examination Council examinations.

The Federal Government on its part in the wake of the warning strike gave approval for partial implementation of the TSS for teachers in its employ Unity schools, police schools and colleges, command and defence schools but without a circular backing it, which had been the major grouse of the union.

But the NUT, at its adhoc NEC meeting held on Tuesday last week threatened to embark on a full scale nationwide strike if within seven days, the Federal Government failed to issue a circular that would give effect to the immediate implementation of the TSS.

The National Assembly also intervened in the imbroglio last week when it summoned both the Minister of Education, Dr. Igwe Aja-Nwachuku, and the leadership of the NUT led by its Deputy National President, Mr. Nelson Onem, with a promise to prevail on President Umaru Yar’Adua to work for an amicable resolution of the industrial dispute.

Following the refusal of the Federal Government to the release the circular, the teachers, according to an NUT source who did not want his name in print, said they had no choice but to proceed on the nationwide strike, while describing the posture of the Federal Government as unfortunate.

Declaring the seven-day ultimatum last week, the NUT warned that the next stage of the strike would not be good for the country, adding that it would be disastrous if the federal government failed to avert the looming strike.

“The next stage of the strike will not be a good one for this country, so we pray and appeal to the President to avert this strike. The seven-day notice we are giving was so painful. We reluctantly gave the seven days and we feel the president will make use of it, release the circular and avert this strike.

“But if government should force us to go on strike, we will have no alternative but to go for the strike. The Federal Government should be held responsible for the strike if it refused to avert it.”

When the Nigerian Tribune contacted the NUT Deputy National President Mr. Onem on his mobile phone, he said he was in a crucial meeting ahead of the NEC meeting today.

But the General Secretary of NUT, Lagos State wing, Mr. Jamiu Idris, told the Nigerian Tribune on Monday that the ultimatum given to the Federal Government had already ended and that the teachers might embark on an indefinite strike if at the meeting of today, government failed to meet the demands of the teachers on instant implementation of the TSS scheme.

“We are waiting for the outcome of the meeting before we can take further steps. The National Executive Council of the union will meet with the government in Abuja on Tuesday,” he said.

Meanwhile, panic has gripped some of the candidates for the May/June Senior Secondary School Examination organised by NECO.

One of the candidates who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune stated that it would be unfair to the candidates if the NECO examination was postponed again because of the strike.