Posted by From LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja on
The Federal Government has begun spirited moves to stave off the planned nationwide strike by teachers across the country over even though it acknowledges that the issue of teachers' salaries and welfare is beyond it.
The Federal Government has begun spirited moves to stave off the planned nationwide strike by teachers across the country over even though it acknowledges that the issue of teachers' salaries and welfare is beyond it.
The Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. John Odey made this known in Abuja on Wednesday when he spoke with the State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting president over by President Umaru Yar'Adua.
He said because of the impact of teachers' strike on the children, the Federal Government had begun consultations with all the stakeholders to ensure the amicable resolution of the issues at stake.
Teachers in the country had on Tuesday suspended their planned strike to await the outcome of Wednesday's Federal Executive Council meeting, after which they said they would embark on an indefinite strike to press home their demands.
'The Federal Government is taking the issue very seriously and consultation is going on with all the stakeholders. The Minister of Education has been directed to liaise with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other stakeholders to ensure an amicable solution," he explained.
Odey however, restated that it was beyond the Federal Government to fix salaries for primary and secondary school teachers since they were not within its purview.
On the outcome of the meeting, Odey announced the approval for the award of contract for the completion of a laboratory complex at the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu, Abuja at the cost of N331.8 million
He said the decision to complete the laboratory, which started in 1993 and later abandoned in 1996 due to lack of funds, was in keeping with the stand of the Yar'Adua administration on abandoned projects.
Wednesday's meeting of the Federal Executive Council was preceded by the swearing in of Ms. Ama Pepple as the new head of the civil service of the federation.