NUT-Bauchi Demand Compensation for 173 Dead Teachers

NUT-Bauchi Demand Compensation for 173 Dead Teachers:

The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Bauchi State Wing, on Thursday demanded compensation for the families of the 173 teachers murdered by insurgents in Borno and Yobe states.

Malam Danjuma Sale, the state’s Chairman of the union, made the demand on behalf of his colleagues, when he led teachers to the Government House, Bauchi, to protest the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok town of Borno, by insurgents.

. “We demand that both federal and the respective state governments should exhibit genuine concern to the families of the affected teachers and pay them adequate compensation,” he said.

The union described the abduction of the over 200 schoolgirls of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno, as barbaric and a stumbling block to meeting the target of “Education for All by 2015”..

It also called on the governments to provide insurance cover for both students and teachers in view of violence being experienced..

“The school system has suffered the worst attack over the years, from primary to tertiary institutions.

“Teachers and students are currently living under constant fear of being attacked, their social conditions have plummeted, as such, something needs to be done, said the union..

Responding, Gov. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State commended the teachers for their concern on issues bordering on national interest.

He condoled with the teachers and the families of the 173 teachers who died in service to humanity.

Yuguda, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Aminu Hammayo, prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased teachers.

He also sympathised with Nigerians, particularly parents of the over 200 girls abducted by the insurgents.

“We have complained year in, year out, on the kind of indices recorded in terms of girl-child education in this part of the country.

“Just when we are making very positive strides in trying to meet this challenge, this (abduction of the girls) happened.

“The negative effect of this will be very serious, as it is capable of reversing whatever successes we have made in terms of promoting girl-child education in the northeast zone.

“But I assure you that government at all levels are making all necessary efforts to address the situation, especially with the support of the international communities.

“It is my belief that in no distant time, our girls would return to us safe and sound, “Yuguda said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the national secretariat of the NUT had on May 21, ordered teachers in public schools nationwide, to boycott classes and participate in a protest, demanding the release of the abducted schoolgirls. (NAN)