The Delta State Branch of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights,CDHR, today issued a seven day ultimatum to the Delta State government to urgently call off the strike embarked upon by primary and secondary school teachers in the State.
Delta State CDHR Chairman, Comrade Kehinde Prince-Taiga, on behalf of its members handed down the ultimatum in a chat with newsmen.
Taiga threatened to mobilize six million Deltans and non -Deltans against the Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa-led government if it fails to pay primary and secondary school teachers their salaries, arrears and other entitlements.
” At this juncture, we are giving him seven day ultimatum to call off the strike. When he fails, we are going to mobilize 6million Deltans across the country not only Deltans those who are stating in Delta and outside the country (Diaspora).”
” We are going to mobilize even the higher institution, NADESTU, NANS, Student leaders, mothers and fathers. We are going to mobilize them to the streets to block the street that the governor must attend to the cry of teachers because nobody works without salary. Teachers cannot be going to school to teach our children when they are not being paid.”
Taiga expressed disappointment in the Okowa-led administration, pointing out that it has failed.
Taiga noted that the strike could result to violence in the state, stressing that it gives children the opportunity to join cultism.
” We are highly disappointed for not taking primary and secondary schools as number one priority in his government.”
Meanwhile, Delta State Governor, Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, has placed security agents on red alert in primary and secondary schools across the state.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Information, Ministry of Information, Mr. Paul Osahor on behalf of the Delta State Government.
Governor Okowa vowed that the Delta State Government will no longer tolerate further incidents of harassment and intimidation of law abiding citizens.
The governor stated that,” 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 government’s directives were harassed and chased out violently by members of the State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT in some local government areas.”
Governor Okowa frowned at the development and warned that it will no longer tolerate any act of intimidation of students as well as law abiding secondary school teachers who are going about their legitimate duties.
” The disruption of the ongoing West Africa Senior Certificate Examination, WASSCE by the actions of the NUT is worrisome and in very bad state.”
Governor Okowa described as “unreasonable” and “ill-timed” the sympathy strike embarked upon by secondary school teachers in solidarity with their primary school counterpart, stressing that”It is a calculated attempt to bring untold hardship to parents and students.”
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