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Primary School Teachers in Delta State have proceeded on an indefinite strike. The strike action was declared by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Delta State Wing during a meeting of its State Working Executive Committee (SWEC) held on Tuesday June 7 at the Teachers’ House, Asaba.

A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting said the teachers have decided to carry out the industrial action after the state government has failed to respond positively to the 14 day ultimatum issued by the union and an additional 7 days of grace on the issues at dispute.

According to the communiqué which was signed by Comrade Eddy Uloho (Principal Secretary) of the NUT, Delta Wing, the vexatious issues at stake included the non payment of the N17,000 harmonized/consolidated salary structure to primary school teachers in the state, withdrawal of the duly negotiated and long approved Teacher Peculiar Allowance (TPA) from the monthly emolument of teachers in the state and the imposition of obnoxious, offensive tax system on teachers in Delta State.

SWEC-in-session expressed regrets that, 14 days after the issuance of the ultimatum and in spite of an additional 7 days of grace given, “no meaningful progress has been made towards addressing the above stated issues with a view to resolving them.

“SWEC in session views this as a total disregard for the welfare of teachers in particular and an ill-will for the overall educational development of the state.

“SWEC in session is disturbed that with the prevailing situation in the State, teachers can no longer continue to operate within the school system under such oppressive and debilitating working condition of denial and neglect.

“Consequent upon the above, SWEC-in-session resolved and hereby directs all teachers in public primary schools in the State to proceed on an indefinite strike action with effect from today (June 7, 2011).

“Secondary School will join after two weeks time, precisely, Tuesday, June 21, 2011.

“SWEC-in-session urges all teachers in the State school system to remain clam and await further directive from the State Wing of the NUT” the communiqué said.

Meanwhile, the Basic Education Staff Association of Nigeria, BESAN, an affiliate trade union body and pressure group of the NUT has urged the NUT, Delta State Wing to ensure that all the issues raised are not by the government before the strike is called off.

It warned that should the NUT suspend the strike without meeting the demands they would call out all its members to carry out a five day peaceful demonstration in Asaba and in all the LGAs across the state, direct all primary school staff to boycott all academic activities and withdraw all its members’ dues from the NUT as a union.

A communiqué issued at the end of State meeting by BESAN held at the Egwere Primary School, Ozoro also on Tuesday, June 7 contained additional demands by the primary school teachers which include:

Non-payment of 2006 – 2011 promotion arrears, non-remittance of the pension scheme money paid by primary school teachers to their pension managers, non-payment of 2009 LTG to some teachers in some LGAs, non-release of proportions to graduate teachers as approved by the Delta State government from grade level 14 to 15 among others.

The communiqué is which was signed by Comrade Adogbeji Gabriel and Comrade Itiveh A.M (president and secretary respectively) however expressed belief that the NUT will “use this strike to drive home the demands of primary school teachers.”