NUJ Seeks Governor’s Intervention As Strike Stops Akwa Ibom Schools

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Akwa Ibom State has urged Governor Udom Emmanuel not to allow children in basic schools continue to wallow in idleness at home following the shutting down of public primary and secondary schools by the teachers’ strike since April 25.

Apparently disturbed by the faceoff between the state government and the teachers’ union led by the NUT chairman, Edet Emenyi, the NUJ in a communique arising from its monthly congress at the weekend called for truce in the interest of the pupils, noting that it’s only under industrial harmony that functional negotiations can be achieved.

Chairman of the state council of the NUJ, Comrade Amos Etuk, expressed concern over what he described as frustration meted on the innocent future leaders, and urged the  government to immediately arrest the industrial action from drifting into a full blown crisis.

He said: “The union is worried by the inability of the state government to fulfill its obligations to the teachers as highlighted by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) resulting in the ongoing industrial action. Congress condemned the approach of the state government in its  handling of the issue and called for a resolution of the dispute so that  pupils and students can resume for the third term.”

LEADERSHIP gathered that the major grouse of the teachers which led to the withdrawal of their services is government’s inability to refund the 7.5 contributory pension scheme to primary and secondary school teachers, non – release of the 2021 and 2023 promotion letters to deserving secondary school teachers and non payment of leave grants between 2013 and 2021, among others.

However, the commissioner for education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet and the state chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Anietie Etuk, it was learnt, have appealed to the striking teachers to return to classrooms as the government was doing its  utmost to address the issues.