Akwa Ibom Teachers End Strike

The gates to public primary and secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State will be thrown open today, exactly one week after aggrieved teachers under the aegis of the State branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), called out its members on strike in protest over sundry issues bothering on their welfare.

This is sequel to resolutions reached by state government with the leadership of the NUT, at the end of a closed-door meeting held Sunday night and presided over by governor Udom Emmanuel at the Government House, Uyo, LEADERSHIP learnt yesterday.

Our Correspondent, however gathered from the commissioner for labour and manpower development, Mr. Aniefiok Nkom, who affirmed that government and the labour leaders have dialogued to reach a compromise on the issues that gave rise to the industrial action,   describing the resolution as “a win-win outcome.”

He said, “It was a very peaceful meeting. The governor saw what needed to be done and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), also saw what was delaying the process.”

It was a win-win situation and the matters enumerated by NUT chairman, Edet Emenyi, have been resolved.”

On her part, the commissioner for education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet, expressed gratitude to Governor Emmanuel, for taking prompt actions to ensure that public schools in the State resume, noting that “the quick intervention was indicative of the premium Governor Emmanuel places on education, given his workers-friendly disposition.”

Confirming the resolution, the state chairman of NUT, Comrade Emenyi, lauded the governor’s disposition towards the teachers, assuring that teachers would return to classrooms for commencement of academic activities immediately.

“Issues bothering on teachers welfare and non-payment of  allowances have been resolved. On that note, the teeming teachers in Akwa Ibom State are ready to call off the strike,” he assured.

In the same vein, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Sunny James, expressed the solidarity of Akwa Ibom workers with the teachers, disclosing that “the teachers’ demand for unpaid entitlements including leave grant, refund of 7.5 per cent deductions for contributory pension and other issues were extensively deliberated upon and resolved accordingly.”