The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has warned that it will shut down schools in states that fail to implement the new minimum wage for teachers.
The NUT President, Comrade Audu Amba, issued the warning in Abuja on Thursday, stressing that the union would no longer tolerate partial or selective implementation of the wage.
Mr. Amba cited cases in Gombe and Zamfara, where primary school teachers have yet to benefit fully from the new pay structure.
“In some states, they implemented it for state civil servants, including secondary school teachers, but those teaching in primary schools and paid by local governments are finding it difficult to get implementation,” he said.
“In Gombe, there is no proper implementation for primary school teachers. In Zamfara, the same situation persists. After our meeting today, we will take stock of states that are yet to implement the minimum wage for primary school teachers.
“They will shut down primary schools in their respective states until the minimum wage is implemented. It is called basic education for a reason. If it is done right at the basic level, the tertiary level becomes easier.
“Primary and secondary school teachers teach; in the university they lecture. The teacher is key. After the parents, the next person in a child’s life is the teacher.
“Welfare means their salary, and the environment where they work and live, for themselves, their spouses, and their families. That is global best practice in the teaching profession,” he added.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, also reiterated the importance of teachers to national development and called for a special salary structure for educators across the 36 states.
“We want a special salary structure for teachers to reflect their critical role in national development.
“States should not be disobeying the law in implementing the minimum wage. The mood of the teacher reflects on the students. If the teacher is happy when entering the classroom, the class will be happy,” Ajaero said.
