Academic Activities Resume as Teachers Suspend Strike in A’ Ibom

Okon Bassey

Teachers and students resumed normal school session yesterday following the suspension of indefinite strike embarked by the Akwa Ibom State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

The NUT called off the strike after three working days of urging teachers to stay at home over unpaid entitlement by the state government.

The suspension of the strike by the union was contained in a statement titled “Suspension of Strike,” dated March 18, 2022, and signed by the State Chairman of the NUT and the Senior State Secretary of NUT, Mr. Edet Emenyi and Mr. Victor Amirize, respectively.

The statement , which was given to journalists during the weekend in Uyo, linked the suspension of the strike to an agreement reached between state government and leadership of the union last Thursday.

“The leadership of the NUT, Akwa Ibom State wing, hereby suspend its industrial action earlier declared against the Akwa Ibom State Government from midnight of Tuesday, March 15, 2022.

“This is sequel to negotiation between the government team led by His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel and the leadership of the NUT led by Mr. Edet Emenyi on March 17, 2022.

“These understanding include the immediate commencement of payments of leave grant for 2017 and 2018, immediate commencement of payments of one month minimum wage arrears to primary schools teachers.” the statement said. 

Accordingly, the leadership of the union directed all teachers to resume normal academic activities from yesterday, Monday, March 21, 2022.

The union said that both parties also agreed on the appointment of a committee comprising of NUT, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and government representatives to dialogue on the template for installment payment of 2019, 2020, and 2021 leave grants to primary schools teachers.

Others include payment of promotion arrears for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 to primary Schools teachers, immediate commencement of 2019, 2020, 2021 promotion exercise to teachers and payment of 7.5 per cent contributory pension refunds to teachers as soon as records are reconciled and other issues listed in the strike bulletin.

The NUT lauded the teachers, parents and students for showing understanding throughout the period of the strike and hope that the government would keep to its side of the agreement to avoid any other disruption of the school system.