The Nigeria Union of Teachers Abia state wing has directed its members to proceed on an indefinite strike from today 30th of May 2022 following the failure of the state government to address and implement their demands.
In a statement issued in Umuahia signed by both the state chairman of the NUT Comrade Kizito Kalu and the secretary comrade, Nnenna Okonkwo noted that the union had in the past issued a fourteen days ultimatum to the state government over the unpaid entitlements and conditions of service of teachers.
The Union further stated that after the expiration of the fourteen days ultimatum another seven-day ultimatum was given to the government but nothing came out of it.
The chairman listed their demands to include unpaid salary arrears of fourteen months for secondary school teachers, Non-payment of TSS to Primary school teachers, Eleven months arrears of #18,000 minimum wage outstanding to Secondary school teachers, the twelve years arrears of leave allowances to Secondary school teachers and the outrageous cost of sale of forms before implementation of promotion exercise.
NUT regretted what the outcome of the indefinite strike of teachers in public schools may cause on the education sector in the state.
When contacted on the telephone, the Commissioner for Education post-basic, Chijioke Mark stated that the government was doing all it can to address the matter and appealed to Teachers to go back to classes as their demands would soon be met.
Writing by Lawrence Nwokedi; Editing by Tina Oyinsan