Thousands of Pry Sch Pupils Barricade Major Highways in Taraba

Jalingo, the Taraba state capital, on Thursday, witnessed an influx of primary school pupils, who, in their thousands took to major highways in the metropolis, demonstrating against the non-payment of their teachers’ salaries and arrears by the state government.

This trend, Daily Times gathered, caused serious traffic as the school children, who came out in their various school uniforms blocked all major streets with placards in their hands with the inscription, “PAY OUR TEACHERS THEIR SALARIES,” “NO PAY, NO WORK,” “WE MUST SAY NO FOR DARIUS IN 2019,” etc.

The primary school children, our correspondent observed, were from the entire public primary schools in Jalingo, the state capital, who were protesting against the plights of teachers, caused by the inability of the state government to address their sufferings, which hitherto, has affected academic activities in public schools.

Among the major highways taken over by the School Children which made movement difficult for passersby on Wednesday morning were; Hammaruwa way, Barde Way, State Secretariat Junction, Ministry of Works Roundabout, Government House Junction down to Government House Gate, PDP Secretariat Junction, and many others. Vehicles had no other option than to seek for alternative routes.

Some of the primary school pupil who spoke to the Daily Times said, “since government don’t want to listen to our teachers, we have collectively decided to take over their struggles by calling on the government to please pay our teachers.”

Some of the teachers seen in the midst of the children denied sponsoring the protest stating that “these children are aware of our plights and they are not pleased with the snail speed of academic activities in their various schools.”

A teacher who spoke on the condition of unanimity told Daily Times that ” the refusal of the government to pay us our salaries for the past eight months is not only affecting us but also biting hard on these children. So, what you are witnessing now is not the making of any Teacher but the government. So, blame Governor Ishaku and his cabinet.”

The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Taraba state chapter, who immediately conducted a press conference at the Teachers’ House in Jalingo, said, “Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) is doing its best towards ensuring that Primary School Teachers’ problems are urgently solved.”

While calling on the “restive teachers” to exercise patience on the State Government, the State Chairman, NUT, Comrade Aliyu Jauro Mafindi, who was represented by the Deputy Chairman, Garba Yusuf said, Government on its part should expedite action in seeing that Teachers’ salaries are paid.

He added that “NUT has no intention of mobilizing its children to the streets” the affected primary school teachers are seriously in dilemma hence the need for the state government to immediately commence the payments of their salaries.”

Teachers in the state, as observed by The Daily Times had on several occasions embarked on peaceful demonstrations demanding for the payments of their ten months salaries and other entitlements.