By Ovedhe Jerry
The Delta State Wing Executive Council (SWEC ) of the Nigeria Union of Teachers had resumed their strike today 9th of March, following a meeting held on the 2nd of March at the Teacher’s House Asaba in which they resolved to resume the strike action suspended on September 9th 2016 on general issues bothering the Union especially delay in the payment of Teacher’s Salaries and non-implementation of Teacher’s promotions by Post Primary Education Board (PPEB) and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) refusal to implement Inter-Cadre transfer of teachers.
This was however contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting expressing their grievances attached to a letter addressed to the Delta State Governor with emphasis on the need for the government to hearken to the cry of teachers.
Among the lingering issues leading to the resumption of the strike were: Non-payment of monthly salaries to primary School Teachers, willful down-grading of teachers in salary grade level (by Infesec), Non-payment of CONPSS arrears May/June 2015, and illegal deduction of teacher’s salaries and non-payment of retired teachers’ benefits.
The communiqué read in parts: “Consequently, SWEC at its meeting held today 2nd March, 2017 resolved to resume the suspended strike action on Thursday 9th March, 2017 if the above listed issues are not addressed within seven (7) days”.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that, the State Government is calling for dialogue even as the strike is said to have started today- Thursday 9th of March, 2017.
As at time of filing this report, SWEC-in session has urged teachers in the State to remain calm and wait for further directive from the State Secretariat of NUT while observing the strike.
