Teachers' Death: NUJ Faults Delta Govt. on Salaries, Arrears Payments

 By Elo Edremoda

Following the death of three secondary school principals and a vice principal in a ghastly auto-crash last Friday, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Warri Correspondents' Chapel has described as "callous" the management of workers welfare by the Delta state government.

Commiserating with the Delta State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, as well as the students of schools where the  four victims served, the union, in a statement signed by its chairman and secretary, Comrades Akpokona Omafuaire and Joe Ogbodu, noted the nonchalant attitude of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration towards payment of workers salaries and arrears.

It will be recalled that the deceased four were en route Kwale to honour an invitation by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Chinedu Ebie. 

According to reports, the meeting was part of processes to resolve the strike action by the NUT.

Further expressing condolence to the teachers' families, the statement faulted the intimidation tactics by the state government to quell the labour dispute, citing the contradiction to its "prosperity for all Deltans" slogan. 

"If the state government had not foreclose the immediate negotiation with the protesting teachers, the death would possibly not have occurred painfully the way it did.

"The Union therefore call on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led government to wake up to its responsibility and stop passing buck when the responsibility to take care of citizens' welfare actually stops at the state Governor's deck.

"The threat position taken by the government was an awkward and outdated manner of resolving labour dispute by a government which purports to give prosperity to all Deltans," the statement said.

nts on the practical issue of investment as well as exploring the need to industrialize Isoko and position Isoko as the next economic and investment hub. 

The imperativeness for endowed Isoko personalities/ elites, and business men to invest more in Isoko was also highlighted at the event. 

The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who was special guest of honor at the event lauded the ingenuity and foresightedness of the two  Local Governments Chairmen in organizing the Summit. He harped on the needed for spirited and business conscious Isoko people to develop interest in investing in Isoko. He promised to encourage investment in all parts of the State. 

Part of the conclusions from the various conversations at the Summit was the need to  established the first ever Isoko Investment Council with the responsibility to outline and implement an economic Master/Plan for Isoko.

Proven finance and investment expert, Sir Ayodele Othihiwa chaired the Summit, while renowned Professor Abednego Ekoko was the Keynote Speaker.

Prof. S. Aghalino and Dr. Chris Akpotu presented lead papers. A crack team of proven experts in various field of endeavors discussed the various presentations and also shared their personal practical experiences in financing and investment.