The National Union of Teachers (NUT) yesterday stated that it would a bide by decisions reached by the Nigeria Labour Congress and would shut down public schools if the planned strike holds on October 11.
Speaking with journalists at the end of ceremonies marking the World Teachers’ Day in Abuja, the president of the union, Malam Abdulwaheed Ibrahim Omar said that NUT was part of the NLC and would obey the decisions of the congress.
“NUT is one of NLC. You know October 11 is an issue of NLC. NUT is part of NLC and what ever decision NLC takes, NUT would follow,” he said.
Earlier in his address at the occasion, Malam Ibrahim Omar stated that the controversial trade union (amendment) Bill was inimical to the interest of workers since it was an abridgement of their freedom and inalienable rights and called on the National Assembly to review the Bill.
“To make education an essential service is even more worrisome especially for teachers because it is not the outlawing of strike that is important but the creation of the conditions that make strikes unnecessary that is much more important.
To outlaw strikes in the education sector is the worst and most dangerous thing that can happen to edu-cation practice in any country. This is so because the destruction and academic calamity that can befall the student as a result of being taught by tensed-up, unsatisfied, angry, frustrated, caged and bottled-up teachers, are irreversible,” he said.
The NUT boss said any arrangement to deny teachers the right to strike would lead to falling standard of education and indiscipline among students.
In his address, the mini-ster of education, Professor Fabian Osuji, who represented President Obasanjo, said government will continue to support creativity and innovation by teachers and encourage the teachers to improve themselves.
“Their working conditions and the school envir-onment will also continue to take the centre stage in our efforts so that our teachers can concentrate on maintaining quality in their professional tasks,” he said.
The theme for this year’s celebration of the world tea-chers day is “Quality Teac-hers for Quality Education.”
Meanwhile, the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, branch of the Academic Staff of Universities (ASUU), yesterday endorsed the strike action called by the Nigerian Labour Congress over the fuel price hike.
ABU ASUU noted in a statement signed by its acting chairman, Usman Ladan, that “as intellectuals, we are the torch–bearers of the nation and we should remain in the forefront to light the way to social and economic emancipation.”
It said that if government refused to revert to the former prices of petroleum products before October 11, the strike will last forever. “All mem-bers of ASUU are to remain at home as from October 11 and ensure the complete stoppage of all forms of academic and administrative work,” the statement urged.
According to ASUU – ABU, the consequence of the price hike was numerous, including increase in tran-sport fares, energy, raw mat-erials, food items and other products which are now beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians.”
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