Abia govt moves to avert teachers’ strike, begins talks with NUT

The Abia State Government (ABSG) has stated that there is no need for any strike action by teachers in the state and has condemned a series of fake news reports targeting the state administration.

This comes as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the state plans to embark on a strike tomorrow, Thursday, following the expiration of their 14-day ultimatum to the state government regarding their welfare, which ends today, Wednesday.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists at Government House on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting, presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

He informed that the State Executive Council had directed the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, to meet with the Nigeria Union of Teachers, adding that the meeting was ongoing as he spoke.

The Commissioner acknowledged that a section of teachers was dissatisfied with certain issues concerning their remuneration, noting that the matter was being addressed. He stated, “There is this news that has been trending on social media about an impending strike by Abia teachers.

“Yes, we have a section of teachers who are not happy with certain issues concerning their remuneration, owing partly to some differentials between the salaries of primary school teachers and their counterparts in junior secondary schools,” Prince Kanu explained.

Prince Kanu expressed the State Executive Council’s concern that the issue had been blown out of proportion, possibly by the opposition. He highlighted that the government is paying salaries to Abia workers and pensioners regularly and is among the first to implement the N70,000 new national minimum wage policy.

He further revealed other incentives provided to teachers by the Dr Otti-led administration, stating, “As part of incentives to encourage teachers who fled the classrooms for the civil service when the past administration was not paying them their salaries, the Executive Council came up with the idea of paying some discriminatory compensation packages to such teachers. It didn’t stop at that; it also increased the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

“All these were deliberate and intentional policies aimed at achieving a purpose: to encourage and motivate the teachers and to encourage those who left the classroom for the civil service to return when it appeared we were lacking teachers. So it is a no-brainer for some group of people to latch onto that to accuse the state government of not prioritising teachers’ welfare.”

The Commissioner noted that recently, fake and malicious news has been spread on social media platforms, allegedly sponsored by the opposition to mislead the public about the Governor’s performance. He issued a warning to those responsible.

He stated, “They have resorted to saying things the Governor never said or ordinarily would never say because of who he is and what he represents.

“At times, they have tried to say things that would pitch the federal government or certain ethnic nationalities in the country against the Governor and his administration. More often than not, we have chosen to ignore them in their macabre dance and pastime as harbingers of fake news.

“Let me remind the naysayers that this administration is not averse to constructive criticism. What this government frowns upon, including all right-thinking and patriotic Abians, is the recourse to fake news. Let it be put on record that at the outset of this administration, the Governor promised to bring hope and help to Abians. In the last 23 months, this administration has given Abians more than hope. He has substantially delivered on a new Abia.

“The state government may not yet be where it desires to be, but it is worth noting that in 23 months, quite a lot has been done, and there is still much more to be done, given the commitment of this administration. The opposition is so piqued that they couldn’t achieve in 24 years what this administration has done in 23 months.”

The Commissioner informed that, as part of reforms in the education sector, phase two of the teacher training programme has been concluded, with about 2,300 teachers across the state receiving training focused on 21st-century competency-based learning.

He added that, in health, the Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology has received accreditation in several course areas, including Community Health Technology, Public Health Technology, Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), and Health Technology.

Prince Kanu also disclosed that the Ministry of Power and Public Utilities has completed the installation of a 60 kWp solar power project and computer-based training centre at Isialangwa South LGA as part of the government’s deliberate policy to spread development across communities in the state. He noted that the Ministry’s ongoing rural water projects in Umuahia North, Isialangwa South, and Arochukwu are progressing well.

The Commissioner further announced that, on Thursday this week, the state government would host stakeholders at an Abia State Start-Up Forum in collaboration with the German Organisation for International Cooperation. He added that the event, which aims to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute ideas on how the state can promote and encourage technology start-ups, would be held in Umuahia.

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