Date Published: 05/24/09

Ondo teachers end strike as Mimiko approves  27.5 % TSS pay rise

Teachers in Ondo State under the umbrella of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), have called off their  planned industrial action following negotiations with the State Government which agreed to pay the 27.5% enhanced Teachers Salary Structure (TSS) for teachers in the State effective July 1, 2009.

The State wing of the NUT, under the leadership of Comrade Ojo Fanimokun had earlier directed its members to commence an indefinite strike from midnight Sunday night (yesterday).

At the meeting which had in attendant labour leaders including the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Momodu Braimoh, as well as Governor Olusegun Mimiko and members of his cabinet, the Governor, while sympathizing with teachers over their plights, however explained that due to the current global economic recession which has adversely affected Nigeria, the resources accruable to the State has continued to go down. This, he added, had made things difficult.

The governor buttressed his argument with graphic details of the precarious financial situation of the resources of the State by disclosing that since January 2009, money had to be taken from the Capital Savings to pay teachers salaries.

“Actual income has gone down since January this year. As at January, we had N1.3bn, it went down to N1.034bn in February; by March, it plummeted to N925.18m; this further went down to N867m by April. Indeed, in the month of February, N111m had to be taken from the Capital Savings to augment, this rose to N278m in March and had gone to N310m in April. The situation was so bad that as at April this year, no local government council has enough money to pay teachers,” the Governor disclosed.

He added that given his desire to ensure that a good number of the people of the State should be financially buoyant, he had no problem with increasing salaries but that he was hamstrung by the difficult financial strait in which the State is currently in.

After series of negotiations on both sides during which it was agreed that there was the need to shift grounds, the teachers unanimously agreed to accept the commencement of full payment of the wage increase of 27.5% beginning from July 1, 2009. Government had initially agreed to stagger the payment of the TSS with full implementation commencing in January next year. It later agreed to commenced payment of the TSS from September 2009 when the NUT rejected its initial offer.

In the Circular signed with the State Government on Saturday morning, it was agreed that the implementation of the TSS takes effect nominally from January 2009 while financial benefits commence on July 1, 2009.

The NUT Chairman in the State, Comrade Fanimokun who led his fellow teachers in songs of praises and commendation for Dr Olusegun Mimiko whom they described as ‘a workers’ friendly Governor and a lover of education,’ pledged the unalloyed loyalty of teachers in the State to his administration.

Similarly, the NLC Chairman in the State, Comrade Braimoh thanked Mimiko for the final approval of the TSS for teachers of Ondo State. “Your administration has touched thousands of lives and households. Thank you and well-done Mr. Governor. Happy 100 days in office coming up in a matter of days from now. I express appreciation to all political office holders that Mr. Governor used for this cause,” he enthused.

In his response, Dr Mimiko said that government would continue to do all in its powers to bring joy into the lives of the people. He, however, noted that having been given tools to work, he expected more from the teachers by ensuring that “our schools become first choice in Nigeria, we want to regain our pristine pride of place in the Educational Sector in Nigeria.”