Kogi Teachers Ignore Resumption Date

Teachers in
public primary
and junior
secondary schools in Kogi State have
refused to resume for the 2014/1015
academic session on Sept. 29 as directed
by the State Government.
The teachers, under the aegis of Basic
Education Staff Association of Nigeria,
said in a statement in Lokoja on Sunday
that they would not resume duty until
they were paid the N18,000 national
minimum wage.
The statement by the state Chairman of
the association, Mr Suleiman Adomu,
said the issue of promotions and
incremental steps without cash backing
should be addressed by the state
government without further delay.
Another demand made by the
association was a stop to irregular
payment of salaries to its members and
full payment of the arrears of leave
allowance being owed teachers from
2011 to date.
They claimed that their grievances
preceded the issue of Ebola Virus
Disease.
They maintained that the devastating
effects of infrastructural decay and the
unresolved issues of welfare of teachers
had rubbished the basic education sector
in the state.
According to BESAN, which has ordered
its members out of classes since April,
schools will not resume until all issues
are resolved.
The group also decried what it described
as incessant inconclusive and fraudulent
screening /verification of staff exercise,
which it said had aggravated the plight of
teachers in the state.
It advised the state government to
summon the necessary political will and
release the results of the previous
exercises.
BESAN then directed its over 1,500
members to remain at home until
further notice, urging them to remain
steadfast and committed to the
uncompromising stance until all the
issues raised were addressed once and
for all.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that
the state Commissioner for Education,
Dr Magret Okhai, had on Sept. 17
directed all schools in the state to
resume normal academic activities on
Sept. 29.

Source: www,punchng.com


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