Bayelsa teachers issue 14-day strike warning over minimum wage

Teachers in Bayelsa State have given the state government and local government councils a 14-day ultimatum to address the concerns of primary and secondary school teachers, or they will initiate industrial action.

Following a meeting of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) executive in Yenagoa, the state capital, the teachers voiced their grievances. They cited the failure of both the state and local governments to implement the N30,000 minimum wage and promote primary school teachers in the state as the main issues.

In a statement signed by several branch chairmen, including Ikiba Izibenidie, Chairman NUT Yenagoa Branch; Ekereke Aruaman, Chairman NUT Ogbia; Tarabina Ebikibina, Chairman NUT Kolokuma/Opukima; and Amakiri Idibiye, Chairman NUT Nembe, the union declared a 14-day ultimatum starting from Friday, October 13. They warned that if the issues were not addressed within this timeframe, the teachers in the state would initiate a strike.

The union criticized the government’s treatment of teachers in the state, labeling it as humiliating and frustrating to those dedicating their time and effort to educate the future generation of Nigerians residing in the state.

The teachers highlighted the suffering caused by the non-payment of promotion arrears to both primary and secondary school teachers in the state. They expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s continuous neglect of the teachers’ plight, despite their critical role in the state and their participation in various engagements.

During the 2023 worker’s day celebration, Governor Douye Diri pledged to form a special committee chaired by the Secretary to the State Government to address the N30,000 minimum wage implementation issue. He also directed the immediate implementation of 2021 and 2022 promotions for local government workers and urged the deputy governor to coordinate with the councils to ensure its prompt implementation.

However, it appears that no action has been taken to address the workers’ grievances since the governor issued these directives.