NUT Strike: Parents Call For Immediate Resolution

Some parents in Abakaliki has called for an immediate end to the ongoing strike embarked on by the Ebonyi chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT).
The parents, who spoke with newsmen on the lingering crisis expressed displeasure and called for urgent solution to the impasse.
They said that the strike, which began on May 25, had paralysed academic activities in all public primary and secondary schools in the state.
According to them, the affected children are now roaming the streets.
They called all parties involved in the trade dispute to adopt dialogue for quick and amicable resolution to the crisis.
Mr Ikechukwu Iwuoha, a retired school principal called on both the NUT and government to put the interest of pupils and students in these public schools above other considerations.
He said that primary and post primary education remained the foundation of scholarship and urged the two parties to sheath their swords.
“We have a new administration that came into being few days ago, the NUT should call off its strike and exercise restraint for the new government to look into their grievances.
“Primary and secondary education remain the foundation of learning and incessant closure of these institutions will portend grave danger to the future of these children.
“I believe with sincere dialogue and commitment by all parties to the dispute, the simmering issues will be resolved,’’ Iwuoha said.
Another parent, Mr Nnachi Ewa, decried the constant closure of educational institutions due to government insincerity in implementing agreements reached with labour unions in the institutions.
He appealed to the state government to urgently wade into the matter.
“It is unfair and a disservice to the Ebonyi children in public schools that while their other colleagues who are in private schools are in schools, they are roaming about the streets.
“A timely settlement of the dispute will bring back these children to the classroom,’’ he said.
Ewa explained that the role of teachers in nation building could not be overemphasised due to their critical role in character moulding.
Smilarly, Mrs Lizy Onwukaike appealed to the two parties to resolve the crisis because the public schools had not recovered from the losses encountered from the previous strike.
Mr Luke Onyia said that the strike if not called off on time could adversely affect the third term academic programme in public schools in the state.
He called for synergy among stakeholders to stem the increasing dislocation of academic activities in government owned education institutions.