The Abia State Government says it has taken steps to address the grievances raised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in a bid to prevent an imminent strike.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Okey Kanu, during a press briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held in Umuahia.
The NUT had threatened to begin an indefinite strike on Thursday over unmet demands, including non-implementation of the Teachers’ Salary Structure, the 65-year retirement age, and the 40-year service elongation policy.
Kanu said a section of teachers was particularly aggrieved over salary disparities between primary and junior secondary school teachers. He accused the opposition of exaggerating the issue for political gain.
He maintained that the current administration remained committed to workers’ welfare and had been consistent with salary payments. “Abia is one of the first states to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage,” he noted.
He added that the government had offered incentives to encourage teachers who previously left the classroom to return, and had extended the retirement age to 65.
He said that the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education was engaging the union to resolve lingering issues, stressing the government’s commitment to a stable and motivated teaching workforce.
