Teachers begin strike in Akwa Ibom

Gov. Akpabio

The Nigeria Union of Teachers, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, has begun an indefinite strike over non-payment of teachers’ salaries in the state.

The teachers, who began the strike on Monday, said they would not go back to classes until the state government fulfilled the agreement it reached with them in concrete terms.

The circular, which was signed by the Union’s Secretary, Dr. Mike Ike-Ene, authorising the industrial action, was made available to newsmen in Uyo on Monday.

Marked NUT/AKSW/SWEC.13/Vol./70, the circular indicated that the union proceeded on the strike following the breach of agreement earlier reached between the Akwa Ibom State Government and the union.

“The teachers of Akwa Ibom State have resolved that failure to address all the issues already negotiated and agreement reached in concrete terms will not make the teachers to report for work,” statement added.

The circular, however, decried the non-payment of promotion arrears since 2009 to date to members in primary schools by the state government.

“All appeals by the union to make State Universal Basic Education to clear the backlog of the arrears of promotion owed primary school teachers in the state have proved abortive.

“Teachers in the primary schools system have not been paid their leave grants since 2012,” the union alleged.

The union in the circular also alleged that pensions and gratuities due to the primary school teachers in the state and their 2014 December salaries had not been paid.