28th May, 2013
The Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT has reaffirmed its decision to proceed on an indefinite strike from 1 June in the states that are yet to implement the 27.5 percent Teachers Enhanced Allowance.
NUT National President Michael Olukoya disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja that the union had resolved that the strike would proceed if nothing was done at the expiration of its deadline.
According to him, the states included Benue, Cross River, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Ekiti and Osun.
Others are Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Plateau, Taraba, Borno, Kogi, Niger and Sokoto states.
Olukoya said that the decision to embark on an indefinite strike was taken on 17 April at the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Asaba.
He said that the Senate Committee on Education had on 23 May 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 said that the meeting with the Senate Committee on Education was stalled, adding that the committee had called on the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, to plead with the affected state governors to comply.
“Also, 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.