The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has threatened to initiate an indefinite strike within public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa. This action is in response to the outstanding N30,000 minimum wage and promotion arrears.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that this decision was reached during an executive meeting on October 12 after a previous three-day warning strike failed to compel the Bayelsa Government into action.
The NUT had previously given the government and local councils a 14-day ultimatum to address the issues concerning teachers across the state or face potential industrial action.
The union’s concerns revolve around the failure of both state and local governments to implement the N30,000 minimum wage and promote primary school teachers. Additionally, the nonpayment of promotion arrears has caused immense hardship for teachers.
The NUT expressed discontent with the government’s consistent neglect of the teachers’ predicament, despite previous discussions that yielded no results.
As stated by the union, this attitude has subjected primary and secondary school teachers to humiliation and frustration in the state. The 14-day ultimatum, effective from October 13, signifies the timeframe for the government to address these issues, failing which teachers in the state will proceed with the strike.
This strike notice received the endorsement of eight local government branches of NUT in Bayelsa, with the chairmen of these branches signing the communique after the meeting.
Dr. Gentle Emelah, Bayelsa’s Commissioner for Education, did not respond to inquiries, refraining from providing government clarification. Schools in Bayelsa, previously vacated due to anticipated flooding, are slated to resume on November 13.
