Minimum Wage: NUT To Embark On Strike In 18 States

The Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT,
has reaffirmed its decision to proceed on
an indefinite strike from Saturday, June
1, in 18 states that are yet to implement
the N18,000 minimum wage as well as the
27.5 per cent Teachers Enhanced
Allowance, TEA.

The states include Benue, Cross River, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Edo.

Others are Nasarawa, Zamfara, Plateau, Taraba, Borno, Kogi, Niger and Sokoto states.
Already, teachers in the affected states have
been directed by the NUT headquarters in Abuja to indicate their readiness to proceed on the strike by signing their names and signatures in special registers provided at their local government headquarters in the affected states.
NUT sources said the response had been
overwhelming as almost all the teachers
involved had indicated their readiness to embark
on the strike.
The affected teachers were given up till today to
indicate their interest in the strike.
In Abuja, the NUT National President, Michael
Olukoya told newsmen, yesterday, that the
union had resolved that the strike would proceed
if nothing was done at the expiration of its
deadline.
Olukoya said that the decision to embark on an
indefinite strike was taken on April 17, at the
union's National Executive Council, NEC,
meeting held in Asaba, Delta State.
According to Olukoya, the Senate Committee on
Education had on May 23, invited the union
officials and the governors whose states were yet
to implement the allowance to a meeting over
the threat by the union.
He, however, said that the meeting with the
Senate Committee was stalled, pointing out that
the committee had appealed to the Minister of
State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, to
plead with the affected state governors to
comply.
"Some of the state governors are yet to
implement the N18,000 minimum wage, which
was approved by the Federal Government.
"For us in the NUT, the strike is the only
remaining option left for us now. We have been
very patient since 2008," he said.