Edo Teachers draw battle line with Obaseki over resumption order

Edo State Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), on Sunday drew the battle line with the state government over its ongoing indefinite strike and the government’s order to resume on Monday, February 1, or forfeit their salaries.

The Union in a statement made available to journalists in Benin on Sunday, signed by its Chairman, Pius Okhueleigbe, Assistant Secretary-General, Moni Mike Modesty Itua and three others, told the government point-blank that its indefinite strike is in force, pending when the issues in dispute are favourably resolved.

It also advised parents/guardians to keep their children and wards out of public schools on Monday, February 1, 2021, insisting that the teachers are resolute in ensuring that “Freedom is now or never.”

Recall that the Secretary to the the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, in a statement last Thursday, while reacting to the Union’s directive to its members on the indefinite strike, ordered them to resume academic activities unfailingly on Monday, February 1, 2021, or it applies its “No work, No Pay”.

But, NUT in its statement, clarified that it has not called off the indefinite strike embarked on since January 18, 2021.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Edo State Wing, has been drawn to some pronouncements purportedly made by the Edo State Government with regards to the ongoing indefinite strike action embarked on by public primary school teachers and School-Heads in Edo state since 18th January, 2020.