Edo State teachers have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state government, with effect from last Thursday, to ensure the inclusion of teachers in the new minimum wage structure or see its membership embark on an indefinite strike action with effect from next Monday.

In a communiqué at the end of the exco meeting, the state working committee of the Nigerian Union of Teachers demanded that all teachers' special allowances (27.5 per cent) be included in the new minimum wage, and advised all school heads/principals and teachers to await further directives.

The communiqué, which was signed by the state chairman, Patrick Ikosimi, and five other members of the exco, said the decision of the teachers is coming in the wake of the state government's resolve to pay workers in the state the new wage according to an agreement the governor, Adams Oshiomhole, entered into with the leadership of organised labour last week.

The NUT was excluded from that meeting.

At the end of the meeting, "it was agreed that the minimum wage in the Edo State Public Service shall be N18, 000.34 for the lowest grade of employees, i.e. GL 01 Step 01, from 1st of June, 2011."

In addition, the meeting agreed that "if there are sectors that have issues arising from the implementation of the new minimum wage and the consequential adjustments across the grades, such sectors are at liberty to make their cases for the consideration of the government."

Sack the protesters

Mr Oshiomhole, in response to the teachers threat, has however, directed the commissioner for education to terminate the appointment of any teacher who is not at his duty post without a good reason.

"We will not tolerate appeals and representation once the teacher has been fired. We need to do whatever we must do to ensure our pupils are properly taught by teachers who give excuses now not to teach properly," the governor said.

Mr Oshiomhole, who decried the attitude of some teachers who engage in trading during official hours, said, "today, it is extremely sad for one to admit that most of our teachers don't earn their pay. They alternate, rather than come to school every day. Some come to school for two days, Monday, Tuesday and they go to Onitsha, Wednesday, Thursday and play politics on Friday. They offer excuses for each other to ensure that they are paid. This is absolutely unacceptable."


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I really dislike unions. Bleh. Strike, strike, strike. . .