Nigeria, June 17, 2016 -*Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, has approved full payment of January and 50% of May salaries to post primary school teachers in the State.
The aim is to bring them at equilibrium with other civil servants in the state. The affected teachers had on Friday embarked on a peaceful protest, demanding for the full payment of their January salary, arguing that while other civil servants had since been paid their January, they are yet to be paid.
Aligning themselves with the position of the Joint labour on the payment of 50% monthly salaries to the entire workforce in the State, the aggrieved teachers, during their protest said they would not collect the May salary until the full payment of January salary is effected.
In response to their request, Dickson, during his meeting with the protesting teachers said his administration placed high premium on the education sector and as a result he is ready to do everything to make the teachers at all level happy.
To fulfil his promise, the governor in less than 24 hours after meeting with the protesting teachers, approved the full payment of January salary to the affected teachers.
A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said this is in addition to the 50% May salary that they had earlier rejected.
Blaming the present situation on the country’s dwindling economic fortune, the governor assured the protesting workers that February, March and April salaries arrears would be paid when the situation improves.
He thanked the affected teachers for their tolerance and show of understanding and called on the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities of the state owned Niger Delta University, (NDU) to always see reason with government, especially now that the country is facing the worst economic challenges ever.
The present situation, according to him, is not peculiar to Bayelsa alone, as there are other states of the federation owing their workers between six and nine months’ salaries arrears.
He said NDU teachers should take a cue from the post primary school teachers that instead of embarking on an indefinite strike action, decided to make their grievances known through a peaceful protest that was amicably resolved.
No reasonable government will ordinarily owe its workforce but the present economic situation in the country demands that all hands must on deck in proffering a lasting solution to the economic crisis. The strike action will lead the state nowhere.
ASUU should be concerned with the future of the students and reason along with the government.
