Bayelsa teachers threaten indefinite strike over N30,000 minimum wage

The Bayelsa State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has threatened to commence an indefinite strike in public primary and secondary schools in the state over the N30,000 minimum wage and promotion arrears.

The teachers made this known at an executive meeting on October 12, after an earlier three-day warning strike failed to compel the Bayelsa State Government to act.

The teachers had given a 14-day ultimatum to the state government and local councils to address the plight of teachers across the state or face industrial action.

The grievances, according to the NUT, include the inability of both state and local governments to implement the N30,000 minimum wage and effect promotion of primary school teachers in the state.

The union said teachers were meted with untold hardships due to the non-payment of promotion arrears to the teachers.

NUT expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s continuous negligence of the plight of teachers who it said played a critical role in the state, in spite of engaging them at different fora in futility.

The union said the attitude of the government had brought nothing but humiliation and frustration to primary and secondary school teachers in Bayelsa State.

It said the 14-day ultimatum took effect from October 13 after failure to address the issues within the limit of the ultimatum would force teachers in the state to go on strike.

The strike notice was ratified by the constituent eight local government branches of NUT in Bayelsa State.

Signatories to the communique after the meeting included the chairmen of Local Government branches of the union.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Education, Dr Gentle Emelah, has however yet to speak on the development as of press time.

Schools in Bayelsa State vacated on August 29 due to floods and fixed November 13, 2023, as the resumption date.

The Star