Public schools to resume new session on Monday

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The resumption follows a directive issued by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to striking members, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Since schools nationwide reopened for the new academic session in September, public schools in the state have yet to resume due to the fact that the state government is yet to pay eights months backlog of salaries to the teachers.

The union resorted to strike action after the state government reneged on it's earlier agreement in May to pay half salaries to the state workers until there have been improvements in the state's finances.

Chairman of the Bayelsa chapter of the NUT, Mr KalaaMa Toinpre, told NAN on Sunday, October 16, that the teachers finally suspended the strike over the weekend.

According to the leader of the union, the decision has been passed on to all the members who were directed to resume work immediately.

“The state working committee of the NUT at the weekend resolved that we should suspend the ongoing strike and return to the classroom following series of negotiations with the state government.

“We have secured some agreements from the state government in writing that at the end of this month, October, two months half salary of the outstanding be cleared in addition to the two months half salary already paid.

“Having secured the commitment of the state government to commence clearing the backlog, we shifted grounds and decided to suspend the strike and return to work.

“We at the state executive of the union are grateful for the solidarity of teachers who resisted ploys to sabotage the struggle for the welfare of teachers and to factionalise teachers in Bayelsa. We shall remain united,” Toinpre said.

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Education, Mr Markson Fefegha, earlier disclosed in a statement that the state government would commence monitoring of teaching and non-teaching staff compliance at public schools in the state on Tuesday, October 18.

Fefegha also revealed that a team of inspectors would be sent from the Ministry of Education, to monitor the resumption of schools all around the state.

He added that the directive from NUT makes it compulsory for all teaching and non-teaching staff to resume work from Monday, October 17.

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Fefegha went on to warn that all staff who intentionally absent themselves from duty would be declared to be "ghost workers" and will be immediately replaced.

He also asked that all headmasters and principals ensure strict compliance with the directive and cooperation with the inspectors.