Following the strike embarked by teachers in public primary and secondary schools in Delta state, the state leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday pleaded with the State governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan to intervene and stem the industrial crisis.
The strike which commenced on Tuesday had crippled academic activities in public schools in the state.
In a letter to the Governor titled: “An appeal to avert The on-going strike action by teachers in Delta state,” the state Chairman of the NLC, Williams Akporeha urged the governor to quickly intervene in the matter to avert the on-going industrial action by primary and secondary school teachers in the state.
The letter, which was made available to journalists, reads in parts, “We write to passionately draw your kind attention to the above mentioned subject and to humbly appeal for your quick intervention towards averting the on-going industrial action by primary and secondary school teachers in the state.
“Your Excellency Sir, you will recall that the issue at stake have actually lingered for so long and deserve your immediate intervention to ensure continued peaceful industrial climate in the state”
Mr Akporeha said that the available records with the state council of congress indicates that the issue at stake include; non-restoration of the 27.5 percent teachers peculiar allowance, non-promotion of stagnated school principals on SGL16 in the state to SGL17, continued stagnation of
university graduate teachers in primary school system on SGL14.
Others, he noted are; non-payment of arrears of minimum wage to primary school teacher s, non-payment of arrears of the consolidated salary structure to primary school teachers in the state.
He said Labour was equally worried about inadequate classrooms for displaced students from schools recently handed over to missions in the state.
Mr Akporeha held that the issue may create another source of crisis in the state if not immediately addressed, as it tends to negate the policy of education for all (EFA).
He therefore urged Governor Uduaghan to “act in his usual labour friendly disposition to address the issues raised without further delay. “
