Bayelsa NUT Threatens To Resume Strike

Rising from a meeting at the Teachers’ House, Yenizue-Gene, Yenagoa, where it re-appraised the age-long problems confronting teachers and the entire education system in Bayelsa State , the NUT observed that the state government had not respected the collective agreement it entered with the union.

It also decried the poor state of infrastructure and inadequate supply of instructional materials to schools in the state, adding that the non-provision of science equipment to senior secondary schools to enable students prepare for the 2008/2009 Senior Schools Certificate Examination was a disservice to the growth of education in the state.

In a six-point resolution, the NUT called on the state government to completely pay up all outstanding 15 per cent salary arrears owed teachers in the remaining six local councils of the state.

It further demanded that government should pay the 2007 promotion arrears and implement the 2008 promotions arrears for teachers with letters indicating appropriate financial effective dates.

Their other demands included:

• Also implement without delay the 2009 promotions/annual incremental arrears for teachers;

   

• Address the issue of imposition of NUT Representatives both in the SUBEB and the Local Government Education Authorities with dispatch;

   

• Adequately provide science equipment to secondary schools in the state as to enable them to prepare towards the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination in 2010; and

   

• Pay up all debts owed principals of secondary schools who were mandated by the state to borrow money to provide science equipment for the 2008/2009 WASC Examination.

   

The union said it was holding strongly to the agreement it had with the state government last August “as valid, sacred and inviolable and therefore should the issues above remain unaddressed till December 31, 2009 , the NUT and indeed the teachers of Bayelsa State will have no alternative than to resume its suspended strike.”

The NUT appealed to well-meaning citizens of the state to prevail on the state government to respect the collective agreement it signed with the union to avert crisis.

However, efforts to reach the state Commissioner for Education, Josephine Ezonbodor, for comments proved abortive, as she was said to be in Copenhagen , Denmark , attending the Climate Change Summit.