Delta State primary and secondary school teachers across the state Thursday embarked on an indefinite strike following what they described as “illegal and unwarranted” deductions from their salaries by the Okowa led government.
The teachers under the umbrella of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Delta state chapter, said governor Ifeanyi Okowa led administration has vehemently refused to be sensitive to teacher plights unlike the past administration of former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.
Speaking with HardReporters correspondent, the Delta state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Jonathan Jemirieyigbe, berated the nonchalant attitude of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa led government in tackling issues militating against the welfare and well-being of public school teachers across the state.
According to the number teacher in the state, following the insensitive of the Okowa led government the union decided to embark on an indefinite strike to drive home their demands which includes the non payment of their salaries from December, January and February.
“The issue of non implementation of promotion released for Primary and Secondary schools since October 2016. Non implementation of JAC’s decision to pay primary school teachers, non payment of minimum wage for several years as well as illegal deductions of teachers salaries on the excuse of infotech biometric data report and so many other demands that Okowa has refused to meet.” Jemirieyigbe said.
Speaking with our correspondent, a teacher who pleaded for anonymity carpeted the Okowa led administration for not been teacher friendly since the inception.
“Okowa has always been wicked to teachers. Okowa will always complained of no money but still he was able to give out a whole $10 million to his girlfriend far away America and amassing wealth to the detriment of teachers in Delta.
“Teachers are tired of Okowa’s incessant cry of no money every now and then. Okowa is only been wicked to us and I must say that the past administration of former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was never like this at all at all.” the teacher lamented.
Contacted on the teachers strike, Delta state Commissioner for Secondary and Basic Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, disclosed that governor Ifeanyi Okowa led administration has made several effort in addressing all the issues raised by the teachers adding that the current state of economic crunch has made it impossible for the state government to fulfil it’s obligation to the teachers.
The commissioner however disclosed that the state government was doing everything possible to address all the issues at stake saying that a meeting with the teachers has been scheduled to resolve the matter.
