STRIKING teachers of public primary and secondary schools across the nation have resolved to picket their counterparts in private schools for failing to join the industrial action.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), which yesterday directed its affiliates in the states to shut down the private schools, said the action was to make the children of the rich in the elite schools to suffer what their parents had inflicted on the poor.
However, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has urged the aggrieved teachers to take their case to the National Assembly, saying the Federal Government has no powers to fix salaries for states.
While expressing satisfaction with the level of success of the strike, NUT said it had gone into negotiations with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and civil society groups to mobilise against private schools that flout the sit-at-home order.
NUT stated that since the strike is intended for all Nigerians, the children of the rich would not be left to attend their luxurious schools at the expense of the poor.
A statement signed by the union’s Deputy President, Nelson Onem and Secretary-General, Obong Ikpe, read in part: “The NUT has concluded discussions with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and civil society organisations to picket private schools that are yet to join the on-going national strike. Towards this, the National Secretariat of the NUT has directed the strike monitoring units in all states to ensure that the strike is observed in all private schools that are yet to observe the strike. These units will be beefed up by the NLC and civil society organisations. The NUT is resolved to ensure that some of the private schools that are opened are shut down. We will not allow the rich, especially those in government, whose children are in those private schools the luxury of leaving the schools open while the strike is on.”
The union said it is in the collective interest of Nigerian teachers to be in solidarity with it irrespective of where they teach. According to Onem, teachers in private schools would ultimately benefit from the fall-out of the strike, adding that conditions of service are worse in private schools, which needed to be halted for the better.
“As the umbrella body of primary and secondary schools’ teachers in Nigeria, the NUT assures teachers in the private schools of its readiness to ensure corresponding enhancement of the conditions of service of teachers in private primary and secondary schools. While teachers’ salaries are generally poor, the NUT appreciates that conditions are much worse for teachers of the private schools. We urge them to observe the on-going strike and not allow themselves to be used to undermine a struggle that will benefit all teachers irrespective of their employers,” it said.
The union also appealed to the Federal Government to “take the necessary steps to end this strike by issuing the enabling circular to create the Teachers’ Salary Scale (TSS). We appeal to Nigerians to help prevail on Mr. President to accede to this demand urgently in the interest of Nigerian teachers, the pupils, the students and the nation’s educational system as a whole.”
To the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the NUT urged it to put on hold the marking of its examinations, as teachers would not be available for the exercise due to the crisis.
Fashola said the teachers have a just cause that is not channelled to the right quarters.
He said the Federal Government lacks the jurisdiction to fix salaries for states, adding that the strike may not yield the desired results.
“Let me say that the cause of the teachers is just and they are entitled to agitate for improved conditions of service. But having said that, I think they are canvassing the resolution of this issue with the wrong person. I think that the engagement and the contract of the teachers are with the various states. While they are trying to canvass for what is just, they should not do what is wrong.
“The Federal Government has no right to stipulate salaries for states and my advice to the teachers is to transfer their energies to the National Assembly for appropriate revenue allocation to the states to pay the salaries and the various benefits they are agitating for”, he said.