‘Unpaid arrears’: NUT directs primary school teachers in Abuja to embark on strike

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Abuja chapter, has directed its members in the six area councils to embark on a strike from September 11.

The union issued the directive after an emergency meeting of its executive council held at Teachers’ House in Gwagwalada.

In a communique which was jointly signed by Stephen Knabayi, chairman, and Margaret Jethro, secretary of the union, the strike was called over non-payment of 25 months’ salary arrears by the area council authorities.

The other contending issues are the “non-implementation of a 40 percent peculiar allowance and promotion arrears, non-upgrading of concerned teachers, non-implementation of annual increments and non-implementation of promotion letters released for teachers”.

“And having explored and exhausted all available avenues of getting these outstanding demands of the concerned teachers met without the desired result including non-commitment of the councils to the welfare of primary school teachers, the SWEC in-session resolved to direct all primary school teachers to embark on an infinite strike action from Monday; September 11, 2023,” the communique reads.

The union vowed not to call off the strike until its demands are met.

The NUT also called on parents in the FCT to remain guided by keeping their children safe at home.

Speaking with TheCable, the NUT secretary said there has been no move by the area council chairmen to negotiate with the union.