By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
After a long period of disagreement between the Nigeria Union of Teachers’ (NUT), and the Edo State Government for improved working conditions of service in the state, the state government has finally ascended to the Union’s demand.
It will be recalled that the union had in a protest letter, gave the state government three-week strike notice over poor conditions of services of its members.
The union also protested against what it called usurpation of functions of the state ministry of education by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), for fixing September 2, 2019, resumption date for teachers in the 2019/2020 academic session, against the September 9, 2019 fixed by the ministry.
In a 7-point communique issued after its meeting with the state government, the union said the government has agreed to implement all its demands.
The communiqué dated September 2, 2019, signed by Pius Okhueleigbe, chairman and Moni Modesty Itua, assistant secretary general respectively, made available to newsmen in Benin City, commended the media for being a worthy partner in the union’s struggle for better conditions of service for teachers in the state.
According to it, the state wing executive was full of appreciation to the executive Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for his demonstration of unending love for improvements in the welfare and conditions of service of teachers in Edo State, as well as ensuring a massive, but positive turn around in the fortunes of the education sector in the state, under his watch.
The communique added that the state government has directed the payment of all outstanding Edo Best stipends owed teachers by SUBEB not later than September, 2019, payment of 2013 to 2015 promotion arrears owed teachers of Oredo and Uhunmwode local government areas.
It also disclosed that the state government has agreed to release subventions to school heads at when due starting from the arrears of the 2018/2019 third term.
Others was the recruitment of personnel into the teaching service in the state among others.
The union however passed a vote of implicit confidence on the governor, the state commissioner for education, state Head of service for finding preventive and curative solutions to the imbroglio.
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