Taraba NUT in crisis over leadership tussle
Callistus Agwaza, Jalingo
Crisis has rocked Nigeria union of Teachers in Taraba state over leadership tussle leading to the spilt of the union into two factions.
The crises began last week following an election to elect new state executives on November 24, during which Mr Nathan Solomon was elected chairman along with other executive members.
Mr. Solomon defeated Mr. Asoushi Bulus with a very wide margin to emerge the new state Chairman in an election which was adjudged by members to be free and fair.
However three days after the election, Mr. Bulus and other members who lost in the election rushed to Jalingo to form a new body known as Association of Basic Education Teachers where Mr Asoushi Bulus was appointed as chairman.
The Association, it was gathered had the backing of Taraba state government who immediately after the formation of the association donated a brand new Hi_Lux van and 18 seater bus to them.
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It was also gathered that attempt by the newly elected executive of the NUT to assess their office located along Donga road Jalingo on November 26 was thwarted as they were prevented a team of policemen from Taraba police command had sealed the office.
The police it was learnt, were working on the instruction of the government who took over the Union secretariat.
The police also prevented the new exco from using the NUT House and chased them from the premises when they went there for the handing over ceremony.
The newly elected chairman of the union, Mr. Nathan Solomon during a press conference in Jalingo on Sunday accused the the state government of causing division of the Union.
He said that the state government sponsored Mr.Asoushi to contest for the Chairmanship position but was rejected by members of the union , adding that the state government Masterminded the break away of the union simply because the candidates they planted were all defeated.
Solomon, said the election held in Donga was free and fair and supervised by representative of National president of the union, representative of the Nigeria Labour Congress and state government were also present.
He said the new leadership of the union led by him will never be in confrontation with the government over issues affecting it’s members but rather use dialogue.
The chairman stated further that the new exco of the union have the support of all members in the 16 local government areas and as well gave them their mandate.
He also expressed dismay over the involvement of the police whom he accused of allowing themselves be used by the state government in issue bordering on labour dispute.
Meanwhile The Chairman, of the factional Association of Basic Education, Mr. Asoushi Bulus had said during their inauguration on November 26 at Taraba Motel, Jalingo that the NUT has no relevance and described NUT as a union of unscrupulous elements that were out to discredit Governor Darius Ishaku and his administration.
