The Abia government says it has put measures in place to address the concerns raised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers to avert an impending strike.
The Abia government says it has put measures in place to address the concerns raised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers to avert an impending strike.
Information commissioner Okey Kanu disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council in Umuahia.
In a press statement signed by its leadership, the NUT directed its members to go on an indefinite strike on Thursday over its unmet demands by the Governor Alex Otti government.
Issues raised by the NUT include the non-implementation of the teachers’ salary structure, the retirement age of 65 years, and the 40-year elongation of the service policy for teachers, among others.
The commissioner said a section of teachers had expressed dissatisfaction, particularly over salary differentials between primary school teachers and their counterparts in junior secondary schools.
He described the situation as being “blown out of proportion,” attributing the online agitation over the development to the opposition seeking to politicise the issue.
Mr Kanu said the current administration consistently showed commitment to the welfare of Abia workers and pensioners.
“Salaries are being paid regularly, and Abia remains one of the first states to implement the N70,000 minimum wage,” he said.
He added that the government deliberately designed policies to incentivise teachers who had left the classroom and moved to the ministry during the previous administration due to unpaid salaries.
“The government introduced compensation packages to encourage them to return to teaching,” Mr Kanu noted.
He further stated that Abia had also increased the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65 years as part of broader reforms to revitalise the education sector.
“The accusations that the government is neglecting teachers’ welfare are unfounded. This is a problem-solving administration focused on policies that uplift our workers,” Mr Kanu said.
He disclosed that the commissioner for basic and secondary education was already engaging with the leadership of the union to resolve any lingering issues.
Mr Kanu reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring a stable, motivated, and well-supported teaching workforce across the state.
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