TEACHERS BEGIN INDEFINITE STRIKE IN ABIA
REPORTER: LAWRENCE NWOKEDI
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Abia State wing has directed its members to proceed on an indefinite strike from May 30, 2022 following failure of the state government to address and implement their demands.
In a statement issued in Umuahia and signed by both the state Chairman of the NUT, Comrade Kizito Kalu, and the Secretary, Comrade Nnenna Okonkwo, noted that the union had in the past issued a fourteen day ultimatum to the state government over the unpaid entitlements and conditions of service of teachers.
The statement further indicated that after the expiration of the fourteen days ultimatum, another seven days ultimatum was given to government, but nothing came out of it.
The Chairman listed unpaid salary arreas of fourteen months for secondary school teachers; non-payment of TSS to primary school teachers; Eleven months arrears of #18,000 minium wage owed secondary school teachers; twelve years arrears of leave allowances to secondary school teachers; and outrageous cost of sale of forms before implementation of promotion exercise as issues that forced the union to commence the strike.
The statement expressed regret that the indefinite strike would have negative effect on the education sector in the state.
When contacted on telephone, the Abia State Commissioner for Education Post Basic, Mr. Chijioke Mark, expressed concern the industrial action.
The Commissioner said that government was doing all it could to address the matter and appealed to the teachers to go back to classes as their demands would soon be met.
