Teachers’ strike: Delta State Govt lied on harassment, says NUT

·       Accuses Govt of denying NUT access to State media organs

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Delta State Chapter, this morning denied the state Government’s claims that it went to harass and chased out teachers from schools on Monday, March 20, 2017.

Governor Okowa of Delta State.

The State Government in a Government Special Announcement signed by Paul Osahor, Director of Information in the late afternoon of Monday, March 20^th,2017 said: “It has come to the attention of the State Government that following the resumption of schools today, some principals, teachers and students who complied with the Government’s directives were harassed and chased out violently by members of the State Chapter of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) in some local government areas.”

Confronted on the issue this morning, the Delta State Secretary of NUT , Comrade Joe Iyalekhue, JP, debunked the claims, saying “it is not true”.

Iyalekhue said: “The state Government is using its media establishments as propaganda. The Government lied by telling the teachers NUT has suspended the strike action. We have not suspended the strike action because the State Government has not our demands.

“For instance, the State Government has ordered its media organ, Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) not to take our news, even when we are ready to pay for it. Since we have no access to the State Government’s media the only option is for us to go round and tell our members that we have not suspended our action. It is the State Government that s going round and harassing teachers with police, army and paid thugs,”

Asked if the State Government has met with the Union for dialogue to resolve the issue, Comrade Iyelekhue said the state Government met with the Union once at the commencement of the strike, and that the dialogue with the Governor did not achieve any result as non of the 10 issues were not treated. “They were all haphazardly treated,” he pointed out, adding: “Yet, our doors are open to dialogue. Anytime the State government deems it necessary to call us for dialogue we will oblige. But until then, the strike continues.”