The Nigeria Union of Teachers in Akwa Ibom State has called off its industrial action, which was on its fourth day.
The strike was embarked upon to press for solutions to issues bordering on the welfare and non-payment of allowances to its members.
This followed a peaceful resolution reached between the state government and the leadership of the union after a closed-door meeting held late Sunday evening.
The state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, presided over the meeting at Government House, Uyo.
The state Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Development, Mr Aniefiok Nkom, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said that the government and the labour leaders have dialogued and reached a compromise on the issues that gave rise to the industrial action, describing the resolution as a “win-win outcome”.
“It was a very peaceful meeting. The Governor saw what needed to be done and the NLC also saw what was delaying the process. So, it was a win-win situation and the matters enumerated by NUT Chairman have been resolved,” Nkom said.
On her part, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, expressed gratitude to Governor Emmanuel for taking prompt actions to ensure that schools in the state resume.
Confirming the resolution, the State Chairman of NUT, Comrade Edet Emenyi, lauded the governor’s disposition towards the teachers, assuring that teachers would return to classrooms to begin academic activities.
Emenyi said, “Issues bothering on teachers’ welfare and non-payment of allowances have been resolved today. On that note, the teeming teachers in Akwa Ibom State are ready to call off the strike”.
The state chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Sunny James, who was also present at the meeting, expressed the solidarity of Akwa Ibom workers with the teachers, saying that the teachers’ demand for unpaid entitlements including leave grants, refund of 7.5 per cent deductions for contributory pension and other issues were extensively deliberated upon and resolved accordingly.
He expressed appreciation to the governor for his prompt response to the teachers’ demands, adding that the resolution would pave the way for NUT to join other sectors of the state workforce in the celebration of the 2023 Workers Day.
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