The State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) met on Tuesday, November 22, 2011, to review a number of age-long issues affecting teachers and the Education sub-sector as well as to deliberate on the recent approval and payment of the New Minimum Wage for workers of Bayelsa State.
SWEC-in-session recalled that a number of issues which led to the issuance of ultimatum by the Union have long been tabled before relevant authorities for Government intervention. These nagging issues include, non-implementation of promotion/arrears for primary school teachers since 2008, non-payment of statutory Annual increment/arrears for primary school teachers 2009, also non-payment of imprest and duty post allowances for principals and teachers of senior secondary schools in the state.
Also the Union berated government of non-payment of promotion arrears for teachers of senior secondary schools. Poor state of infrastructure and inadequate provision of instructional materials to both primary and secondary schools in the state.
SEWC-in-session noted with dismay that while the promotions and annual increments were implemented, the arrears accruing from their non-implementation over the years as well as the other above-mentioned issues are yet to be addressed.
SWEC-in-session commended the state Government for the approval and payment of the New Minimum Wage to workers but frowned at the non-implementation of same for teaching and non-teaching staff of primary schools under the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) due to failure of Local Government Council to make full remittance of their 30% quota for the salaries.
In a statement issued and signed by the state chairman, Alabo Erewari C.A. and the Principal Secretary, Comrade Clinton J. Ikpitibo. The SWEC-in-session resolved as follows:
“That the state Government is given seven (7) days ultimatum to direct and cause the implementation of the New Minimum Wage for academic and non-cademic Staff of Primary Schools in the state.
“That the state Government Should without further delay direct the payment of Promotion/incremental arrears to the affected academic and non-academic staff of Primary Schools.
“Imprest and duty post allowances to Principal and Teachers of Senior Secondary Schools in the state.
“That the State Government should address all the other aforementioned lingering issues to ensure a hitch free education delivery in the Primary/Secondary School Sub-sector in the state.
“That should the issues remained unaddressed till the expiration of the 7 day ultimatum teachers of the state would have no other option than to down tools until Government finds lasting solutions to the issues at stake.
“Finally, the Union warns the government to implement or face the action that will come after the 7 days ultimatum.”
By Jeremiah Jeremiah,yenagoa
