Thousands of pupils of Lagos State public schools were stranded on Monday, following the strike action embarked upon by members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State wing.
The pupils said they came to school, following a purported report by a national newspaper that the teachers had suspended the strike but were disappointed that they were not ready to go to the classroom.
Meanwhile, the NUT executive has dissociated itself from the alleged suspension of the strike, describing it as propaganda by the national body of the union.
An official of the union in Lagos, Mr Femi Ogunsiji, told the Nigerian Tribune on Monday that the national body could only give instruction on how the strike would go but not an order to suspend it.
He said, "the teachers in Lagos feel the pain and know where the shoes pinch them not those in Abuja, the strike continues."
At Babs Fafunwa Grammar School, Ojodu, scores of students were seen at the gate, having been told to go back home.
The story was not different at Agidingbi and Omole Secondary Schools in Ikeja area of Lagos as teachers refused to welcome the pupils back for the new academic session.
According to a pupil, Miss Adeyemi Saidat of Babs Fafunwa Grammar School, they had gone to school on Monday because they thought the teachers had called off the strike.
She said, "my parents learnt about the suspension of the strike over the radio. That is why they brought me this morning and leftfor work. But here I am thinking of how to get back home."
Another pupil, who simply identified himself as Posi said he didn't know there was strike.
The teachers are on strike due to the failure of the state government to implement the 17.5 per cent Teachers Salary Structure. Source:tribunenigeria
If Lagos State Teachers strike,why are the pupils stranded.They should stay at home and wait for a positive development
The periods these children have stayed at home, please let the strike be suspended and let the children return to school.