The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has suspended its strike in some states over the non-implementation of 27.5 per cent increase on the prevailing basic salaries of teachers. A statement signed by the Assistant Director of Press, Mr Samuel Olowookere, on Friday in Abuja, said the suspension followed the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu. It said that during a meeting with the Federal Ministry of Education and NUT leadership, the minister appealed to the union for time to address the issues of concern.
“In a display of confidence in the ability of Wogu to resolve the impasse, the union agreed to give the minister time to address the issue and suspended the ongoing strike accordingly.’’
It recalled that in May 2008, the NUT issued a 21-day ultimatum for the implementation of the Teacher’s Salary Scale (TSS) and the ministry intervened at the time.
“The Nigeria Governors Forum also intervened subsequently on August 6, 2008 an agreement was signed with the union on a 27.5% increase on the prevailing basic salaries of teachers in each state”.
According to the NUT, the 18 states that have yet to implement the 27.5 per cent allowance as at August include Adamawa, Benue, Kogi, Lagos, Ekiti, Abia, Enugu, Cross River, Kebbi, Taraba.
Others States were Plateau, Delta, Katsina, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Ebonyi, Gombe and Bauchi.