By Ushang Ewa
The Nigeria Union of Teachers in Cross River State has directed teachers in the state to resume work today despite plans by the organized labor in the state to effect a “total shutdown” by Wednesday.
The Chairman, Comrade Eyo Nsa Itam told radio hosts Agba Jalingo and Jonathan Ugbal on Sunday evening that “I have directed that teachers should resume tomorrow (today).”
Itam was on the hot seat with the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Stephen Odey who applauded the decision of Mr. Itam to do so and quickly pointed out that everyone is suffering from the strike as children are kept at home.
But, Mr. Itam said that they are not backing out of the indefinite strike action embarked upon by the organized labor in the state.
“But, we are not backing out. But, teachers will resume work tomorrow,” Mr. Itam said.
When asked to explain, he repeated the same thing two more times on the program with host, Mr. Jalingo telling listeners that it was a good move as that was the first time the information was going out.
NUT now joins the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigieria (JUSUN) and the National Union of Local government employees who backed out on Friday and Saturday from the strike action which has crippled economic activities in the state.
Comrade Asanya Asuquo Ebong, chairman of JUSUN in the state issued a statement saying that it had joined the staff in sympathy with the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) and having done its bid so far, JUSUN cannot continue as it is an affiliate of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC).
“Having joined the strike action on sympathy grounds to an agency of NLC, the Joint Negotiating Council, JUSUN has done her bid so far in solidarity to the agency.
“So, it has withdrawn from the said strike action forthwith as she is not a member of Joint Negotiating Council but an affiliate of NLC.
“Therefore, normal work resumes in the Judiciary with effect from Monday, 3rd July, 2017. So, all JUSUN members, indeed all Judiciary workers are to resume work as stated above,” the statement read.
But, the NLC, JNC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are all part of the organized labor which said the strike will continue.
The strike action has suffered setback as this three unions have an army of members totaling over 20,000 in the state.
The three unions had failed to participate in a strike action by Labor in 2015 which led to the suspension of their leadership by the NLC.