Burutu teachers passes vote of confidence on Rufus Eserifa

The head teachers and teachers of Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State passed vote of confidence on the reappointment of Rufus Eserifa as the Education Secretary and disassociated theirselves from the recent actions of Comr. Bare Ebisine, the chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu, who in publication writes to disprove the reappointment of their choice, Rufus.In a statement released on Monday, 5th of June, and sent to PEBNEWS on 7th June 2023, signed by Tom Eyoro-ere, chairman of the 'Concerned Teachers' after a resolution reached by the headteachers and teachers, stated that "they experienced a very efficient and effective monitoring, supervision and management of schools’ performance to maintain a very high standard in accordance with specified curriculum during Mr. Rufus Oyakebiseimor Eserifa's administration."The body notified and described the said meeting held on 31st, May, 2023 by Comr. Ebisine Bare to counter the reappointment of Rufus as manipulation.They said the notice of the meeting was not communicated to the teachers through the proper channels. Stressing that Comr. Ebisine held the meeting in secrecy just to achieve his selfish purpose.Adding that, the decision from the records of the minutes of the said meeting does not reflect the minds of even the members that were present at the meeting, stressing that the union strongly supports Rufus' reappointment without any interference.They however, kicked against the publication of Comr. Ebisine Bare, who tried to disprove the reappointment of Rufus as the Education Secretary. Read full texts below:"Concerned Teachers,Burutu Local Government AreaDelta State.5th of June, 2023."The Executive Chairman,State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)Asaba, Delta State."RESOLUTION REACHED BY THE HEADTEACHERS/TEACHERS OF BURUTU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN SUPPORT OF MR RUFUS OYAKEBISEIMOR ESERIFA AND IN PROTEST AGAINST THE HIGH-HANDEDNESS AND PERSONAL INTEREST/MANIPULATION OF COMRADE BARE EBISINE, THE CHAIRMAN OF NIGERIAN UNION OF TEACHERS, BURUTU BRANCH."We, the Head Teachers and Teachers of Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, wishes to dissociate ourselves from all the recent actions of COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu, and from any motion he has raised in connection to the reappointment of MR RUFUS OYAKEBISEIMOR ESERIFA, based on the following;"The notice of the said kangaroo meeting of the 31st day of May, 2023 was not issued to allow general attendance of members as most of us only got to know of the meeting few hours to the meeting. The notice of the said meeting was not communicated through the proper channel, as COMRADE EMOMOTIMI UWHEMA, the Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu Branch, could not send the notice of the said meeting, as she was not aware of the meeting until some hours to the meeting. COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu sent the notice to some selected members through the Social/Publicity Secretary in total contravention of the provisions of Constitution of the Union. The Secretary was also not aware of the agenda of the meeting until the COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu read the agenda at the meeting. The meeting was shrouded in secrecy just to achieve the selfish purpose of COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu of using the face of the Union for goals outside the purport and aims of the rules of the Union and its members."As a result of the secrecy and emergency nature with which the notice of the meeting got to us, most of us could not make it to the venue of the meeting as the timing of the meeting was deliberately arranged to stop us from attending the said meeting. Most of us from the creeks called to inform the COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu of our challenges as we were journeying down from the creeks, and pleaded that the meeting be delayed a little to accommodate us, but he refused and told us that he really did not need everyone’s attendance as the issues to be discussed are minor union issues. He practically schemed us out from attending the said meeting to stop us of from voting. Some of us eventually made it to the venue of the meeting but were surprised that even after all our calls and efforts to make the distant journey down to the meeting irrespective of the short and secret notice, COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu started the said meeting and had already finished the said meeting. We were however informed that the meeting ended abruptly in chaos."We wish to state at this juncture that we strongly oppose the said personal voyage and attempt of COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu seeking to frustrate the reappointment of MR RUFUS OYAKEBISEIMOR ESERIFA as the Secretary of the Local Education Authority of Burutu Local Government Area. Our reasons are;It is not in the Constitution of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) or any extant Law for the Union or its Chairman to participate in the appointment of the Secretary of the Local Education Authority. This is clearly an unlawful personal voyage of COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu which must be jettisoned in order not to set a very dangerous and unlawful precedent."The said decision, from the records of the minutes of the said meeting, does not reflect the minds of even the members present at the said meeting, as everyone who spoke on the subject at the said meeting demanded that the Union allowed MR RUFUS OYAKEBISEIMOR ESERIFA to be reappointed without any interference from the Union. But COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu, who had his own personal mission, decided to go against laid down procedures of presiding Union meetings as laid down by the Constitution of the Union, singlehandedly called for the few attendees to vote on the undisputed issue. It is a decision of COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu, not a decision of the members.That the said funds COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu is accusing and blackmailing MR RUFUS OYAKEBISEIMOR ESERIFA of misappropriating and embezzling were already paid to the appropriate accounts and disbursed as well. COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu is obviously lying to members of the Union about the said subventions and National Housing Funds monies, as all of them have been paid to the appropriate quarters by Local Education Authority through MR RUFUS OYAKEBISEIMOR ESERIFA. However, COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu and the AOPSHON Chairman, COMRADE KEMEBIGHA ENEBRAYE, has secretly deducted 5% of the subventions which is meant for schools management without consulting with the Headmasters involved, the members or Executives of the Union. There is no time this deducted 5% was discussed at any meeting of the Union, not even at the said meeting of the 31st day of May, 2023. COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu in his usual manner has secretly shortchanged the innocent Headmasters/members of their entitlement, yet distracting their attentions by pointing fingers to other direction. COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu is known to be very corrupt as he has severally been deducting money from members for who take loans from the Union and families of deceased members when collecting deceased members death benefits over the years, as token to the Executives of Nigerian Union of Teachers, Delta State.Assuming without conceding, if there is any need for teachers to protest/vote against MR RUFUS OYAKEBISEIMOR ESERIFA’s reappointment, it is the sole preserve of Chairman and members of AOPSHON, not the entire Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu, which also include secondary school teachers, who no little or nothing about the office of Local Education Authority and its Secretary. But COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu tactically excluded the Local Education Authority Headteachers/teachers from the said meeting and went on with the sham of voting even when the AOPSHON Chairman and members was against it.That COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu without the approval of the Union and its executives, engaged the services of a lawyer, E. B. MODJOTA, ESQ. to write a petition on behalf of the Union against MR RUFUS OYAKEBISEIMOR ESERIFA without the consent and approval of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu and its members. This is a gross abuse of office and an act of corruption, as the money used to engage the services of the lawyer belongs to the Union but was never spent with the approval of the Union.That COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu is handling the affairs of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu as his personal affair, by using the Union to unlawfully chase his personal goals and enemies. The Union has no enemies, but COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu is fighting tooth and nail to create so many enemies for the Union.That COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu is planning to throw the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu into chaos by lying to members of the Union in respect of the peace accord reached during the crisis that emanated from his election, as he attempts to continue in office beyond his tenure. "Finally, COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu level of corruption and tendency to always misappropriate funds and items of the Union extends to very petty matters. Sometime in December, 2023, the leadership of Burutu Local Government Council magnanimously paid Christmas bonus to the teachers of the Burutu Local Education Authority through the office of COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu. Instead of paying it to the teachers, he colluded with MRS THERESA ORUBEBE, the Burutu Local Government NUT to the State, to pay just a few selected teachers and pocketed the remaining, as many teachers are yet to enjoy the Christmas bonus. In the same vein, COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu is very selective on members who apply for loans from the Union. He only approves loans to his allies and members who are willing to “cooperate” with his antics of kickbacks. He treats the Union funds as his personal money, approving loans repeatedly for some few members in circle, without them paying back before approving subsequent ones. He is also on several unapproved loans, as he dips his hands into the treasury without caution. We strongly demand that our accounts be audited."We therefore state that we are not in support of any blackmail, corrupt or manipulative moves by COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu masquerading as voting or resolution against MR RUFUS OYAKEBISEIMOR ESERIFA’s reappointment as Secretary of the Local Education Authority of Burutu Local Government Area."We totally support the nomination and reappointment of MR RUFUS OYAKEBISEIMOR ESERIFA as Secretary of the Local Education Authority of Burutu Local Government Area, as we vehemently reject any plot by COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu to use us as a tool to fight an unlawful and personal battle against anyone. Our basis of supporting the reappointment are;We have enjoyed very prompt payments of salaries within the duration of MR RUFUS OYAKEBISEIMOR ESERIFA’s administration as the Secretary of the Local Education Authority.We have enjoyed a very cordial/harmonious working relationship all through MR RUFUS OYAKEBISEIMOR ESERIFA’s administration as the Secretary of the Local Education Authority without any cases of victimization of the staff.The welfare of teachers was prioritized as it enjoyed a great boost. Notable amongst such preferential welfare treatment is the ease with which teachers were able to access the National Housing Funds loan facility to the tone of ₦1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira). This was a novel achievement as we had never experienced such before, and it was also the first record of such feat in the State.All through the tenure of MR RUFUS OYAKEBISEIMOR ESERIFA, there has never been any omission of the salaries of any staff in the whole of Burutu LEA.We also experienced a very efficient and effective monitoring, supervision and management of schools’ performance to maintain a very high standard in accordance with specified curriculum during MR RUFUS OYAKEBISEIMOR ESERIFA’s administration."We hereby unequivocally state that we have lost confidence in the leadership of COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu, as he has on too many occasions abused his office and ridiculed the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu with his unacceptable actions. We demand he steps aside of the office pending proper investigations of his shameful conduct."We therefore urge the necessary authorities to discountenance everything that pertains to the said meeting dated the 31st day of May, 2023 as it is a selfish plot by COMRADE BARE EBISINE, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Burutu to mislead the Union, its members and the authorities. "Yours faithfully,"Cc:(1) The Executive Chairman Burutu Local Government Area Council, Burutu."(2) The Chairman, Local Government Service Commission Asaba"(3) The Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Delta State, Asaba."(4) Director State Security (DSS) Asaba."(5) Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)"(6) Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) State Office, Asaba."(7) DFA Internal Audit Salary Unit, SUBEB, Asaba."(8) The Area Commander, Burutu/Aladja Police Station."