In reaction to the state government’s failure to pay the N18,000 minimum wage arrears to members in the state, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Bayelsa Chapter, has declared an indefinite strike in schools in the state.
This was disclosed on Monday 23rd September, 2019 by the union’s state Chairman, Mr Kala-Ama John, and the Secretary, Mr Johnson Hector.
The Chairman stated that the strike took effect after the expiration of 21-day ultimatum given to the state government in July and additional 7 days ultimatum on September 12.
He further stated that the strike had grounded activities in both primary and secondary schools. He noted that the schools were supposed to resume for the first term of the new academic session on Monday. He however stressed that the strike was the only language the state government understood.
We are aggrieved over non-payment of backlog of salary arrears ranging from three and a half to seven and half months to primary school teachers since 2013.
“We also observed acute shortage of teachers in both primary and secondary schools, non-provision of instructional materials to schools since September 2018 till date and other lingering issues confronting the education system in the state,” he added.
