Bayelsa: Teachers Threaten Indefinite Strike over the N30,000 Minimum Wage

In protest of the unpaid N30,000 minimum wage and promotion arrears, the Nigeria Union of Teachers has threatened to go on an indefinite strike in Bayelsa’s public primary and secondary schools.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the union decided to take action during an executive meeting on October 12 after a previous three-day warning strike had failed to force the Bayelsa government to take action.

The teachers had threatened to take industrial action if the state government and local councils did not address the predicament of teachers throughout the state within the next 14 days.

The NUT claims that among the complaints are the failures of the state and local governments to carry out the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage and to advance primary school teachers within the state.

The union claimed that because the teachers were not paid their promotion arrears, they were subjected to unspeakable hardships.

NUT expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s persistent disregard for the condition of teachers, who were vital to the state, despite their futile engagement in various fora.

Teachers in the state’s primary and secondary schools have only been made to feel humiliated and frustrated by the government’s attitude, according to the union.

The statement stated that the 14-day ultimatum went into effect on October 13 and that if the issues weren’t resolved within that time frame, state teachers would be forced to go on strike.

The eight local government branches that make up the NUT in Bayelsa approved the strike notice.

Chairmen of LG branches of the union signed the communiqué that was released following the meeting.

When contacted, Dr. Gentle Emelah, the commissioner for education in Bayelsa, declined to comment because he had not returned calls or messages asking for an explanation from the government.

According to NAN, schools in Bayelsa were supposed to reopen on November 13 but were forced to close on August 29 due to an anticipated flood.

NAAN.