Posted by By Moyo Fabiyi on
As teachers' nationwide strike enters its fourth day today, more private schools in Lagos have joined their colleagues in the public schools, to fight for improved welfare package.
As teachers' nationwide strike enters its fourth day today, more private schools in Lagos have joined their colleagues in the public schools, to fight for improved welfare package.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) called on its members nationwide to embark on an indefinite strike action until the Federal Government was willing to issue an enabling circular on the Teachers' Salary Scale (TSS). P.M.News checks this morning revealed that more private school teachers have expressed support for the strike action. Pupils were turned back at Sound Hope Academy, Ipaja, Lagos, this morning, while other private schools such as Roy-Faith International, Pleasure, Abule Egba and MAO International School, also in the same area, opened for normal academic activities.
A reliable source informed P.M.News that many private schools considered the high fees paid by parents, and the fact that examinations were currently going on in the schools. The source explained to P.M.News that 'when the examinations are completed, most private school teachers would join the strike." At the time of filing this report, the NUT chairman in Lagos State, Comrade Michael Olukoya Alegba, could not be reached. However, the Federal Government has denied allegation by the NUT that it was not interested in dialogue to resolve the crisis. Minister of Education, Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu, said that before the teachers' three-day warning strike, government had a dialogue with them. The government therefore warned teachers in public schools against picketing private schools or forcing teachers to join the strike.