There seems to be no end in sight in the imbroglio between Teachers in Imo State and the State Government, as the Teachers vowed not to return to classes, unless their accumulated salary arrears are paid.
The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, (Imo Chapter), Philip Nwansi, while speaking to news men in Owerri, on Thursday, said the government had done nothing in settling the arrears of salaries despite several meeting with the State Governor, Hope Uzodinma on the matter.
He added that in one of the meeting with the Governor, he promised to clear arrears of salaries owed the Teachers.
Nwansi, further explained that the salaries of about 2,000 teachers in the state have not been paid as at first week of September, 2020, which has span across a period of seven months.
He said: “In Ngor Okpala Local Government Area (LGA), no primary school teacher has received salary since March this year. In Owerri West and other LGA’s also, may teachers are yet to receive salaries.
“There is no way you can tell me that what is holding their salaries is BVN and the banks. We cannot believe that. You cannot tell me that the papers of all the teachers in Ngor Okpala are wrong.
“ What we are saying is that if every teacher does not get salaries up to date, and if the union does not its check-off dues, there is no possibility of schools reopening in Imo State.
“The union has not been running since March, and the government is deducting the check-off dues and not remitting the same to the union. And if we don’t react, our members will never have full confidence in us anymore. They will think we have compromised.”
He also said, the coronavirus pandemic is a huge concern for teachers in the state, they fear returning to school will expose them to the virus, as they believe it has not been properly contained in the State.
Recall, that EDUCARE NEWS reported that members of the Imo State chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), in July, embarked on a seven-day fasting and prayers in the 647 autonomous communities over non-payment of their three-month salary arrears.
