NUT begs Amosun to reinstate dismissed teachers

The national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has again appealed to Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun to reinstate three of its members dismissed in October 2016.

Mr Micheal Olukoya made the appeal at a news conference at the NUT Secretariat in Abeokuta on Friday.

Olukoya said that the NUT believed in dialogue and would not engage the state government in any litigation on the matter.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government sacked the three and others for allegedly organising a protest to disrupt the 2016 World Teachers Day celebration.

The three are the State Chairman of NUT, Comrade Dare Ilekoya, Mr Eniola Atiku of St. Peter’s Primary School, Obafemi-Owode and Mr Nola Balogun of Oke Owa United Primary School, Ijebu Ode.

It also dismissed eight others, while 16 were suspended, based on the recommendations of a panel set up to investigate their individual roles during the celebration.

The state government in its magnanimity recalled some of the dismissed workers and pardoned all suspended workers, following intervention by stakeholders in the state.

Olukoya reiterated that none of the NUT members was part of any action against the government because the NUT declined to be part of the protest.

“We believe that our appeals will be attended to by government. We believe that our teachers will be let off the hook. We believe that mediation is the best approach to resolve this problem.

“Our language is to further appeal; we have made mistakes and we don’t need to threaten or embark on industrial action against the state government.

“Our first plea yielded results because our members that were involved were pardoned. We believe the three will be pardoned too.

“We have a robust relationship with the state governor. The governor was disappointed with the attitude of our members.

“We wish to appreciate the governor for his magnanimity in pardoning 31 out of the 34 teachers. We are appealing that the remaining three be pardoned, ” he said.

The NUT national president also appealed to the government to release the seven months outstanding check-off dues of the union members.