Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has asked parents and guardians not to take their children and wards to school on Monday, February 1, 2021.
InsightnaijaTV recalls that the Edo State government had last Thursday announced the resumption date for public primary schools in the state.
The government in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie disclosed that full activities will resume in the schools on Monday, 1st February.
The statement which noted that full COVID-19 protocols will be in place and enforced urged parents and the general public to note the dates.
The government warned that teachers must fully be at their duty posts as the government was ready to implement the no work, no pay policy a reaction to the NUT last Wednesday directive which ordered all its members to ignore the proposed resumption date by the state government even as negotiations to resolve the strike continue.
But in a fresh statement on Sunday the chairman, Pius Okhueleigbe, Assistant Secretary-General, Moni Mike Modesty in Benin city, the state capital, the union insisted that its indefinite strike continues.
The statement read: “The union has not called off the indefinite strike embarked on since January 18, 2021. We urge public primary school-heads, teachers, parents, pupils and the general public to disregard all forms of threats, blackmail, intimidation, announcements, pronouncements and moves from any quarter, aimed at discrediting the indefinite strike action.
“None of these anti-democratic tactics will utter the unshakable resolve of the union and her members in ensuring that teachers 10-point demands are met by the Edo State Government.
“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 regard to the ongoing indefinite strike action embarked on by public primary school teachers and School-Heads in Edo State since 18th January, 2020.
“Wherein, it has been reported that the government has issued a threat of “No Work, No Pay”, amongst others, to striking teachers with effect from 1st February, 2021.
“Ordinarily, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Edo State wing would not have bothered to respond to the said pronouncements because they were directed at the “National Union of Teachers”, a body unknown to the constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but considering some parts of the pronouncements that bear teachers issues presently in dispute between NUT, Edo State wing and Edo State Government.
“The indefinite strike action by public primary school-Heads and teachers which started on the 18th day of January, 2021 is still very much in force, hence by Monday, February 1, 2021, it will continue unhindered in the (18) eighteen Local Government Areas of the state.”
