- The State government said it will not reopen schools after it concludes Covid 19 tests in the 27 LGA.
BY EBERE EKE
With 11 States reopening schools in the face of coronavirus pandemic, Imo State government says it is not ready yet to do so.
The State government says it cannot reopen schools until ongoing Covid 19 testing programme in all the 27 local governments of the State are concluded.
This was part of it’s resolution at the weekly State Executive Council meeting held at Government House, Owerri.
The State Ministry of Health had last month kick started testing for Covid 19 in the 27 LGAs of the State.
But observers argue that the deferment of school resumption in the State may also be related to the resolve of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, in the state, not to go back to classes until their salaries are paid.
NUT Chairman, Imo State, Phillip Nwanshi, had said that as at September 2020, about 2,000 teachers have not been paid for about seven months.
He had told newsmen last month that if the State government directs the resumption of schools, teachers in the State will not return to classes until their salaries are settled.
The State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma had however assured that non payment of salaries will soon be a thing of the past in the State.
He said soon salary payments to civil servants and pensions to pensioners will soon be automated, assuring of his administration’s commitment to ensure workers and pensioners are happy in the State.