Teacher’s unrest: Ebonyi schools closed indefinitely over non-payment of salaries

Judith Echefu, Abakaliki

Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Ebonyi State chapter, has embarked on an indefinite strike in seven local government areas, crippling academic activities in the affected regions.

The strike, which commenced immediately, is in protest of the non-payment of teachers’ salaries and alleged sabotage by the government.

The Mirror reports that Ebonyi, Edda, Ezza South, Ezza North, Ivo, Ishielu, and Ohaukwu were the affected council areas.

According to the Union, the strike was a result of non-payment of three months’ salaries to some teachers in the affected local government area.

A statement by the Union Secretary, Bassey Asuquo, read, “Sequel to our earlier notice on mobilization for industrial strike action, we have thoroughly reviewed the compliance of local government chairmen regarding the clearance of our members’ salaries.

“As of the close of work today, February 5, 2025, we acknowledge that certain local government areas have cleared the salaries of our members.

“However, we regret to inform you that several local government chairmen have failed to clear the backlog of our members’ outstanding salaries.

“In response to this non-compliance, we hereby declare indefinite strike action in the following Local Government Areas: Edda, Ebonyi, Ezza South, Ezza North, Ishielu, Ivo and Ohaukwu.

“All our state and branch officers in the affected local government areas are instructed to adhere strictly to this directive and ensure the immediate enforcement of the strike action from midnight on Thursday, 6th February 2025.

“This includes organizing and maintaining solidarity picket lines and monitoring the Compliance of the strike action across the affected localities”, the statement said.

The Union noted that the failure of the local government chairmen to meet their obligations to its members was unacceptable, vowing not to relent until its demands were met.

“We call on all members to remain steadfast and continue their support for the strike action. ”

A teacher, who pleaded anonymity for fear of being traced, said, “Some local government chairmen have been owning some teachers in their areas, and we are affected. We are being owed from 2024 October- January 2025. I don’t know when the strike will be called off.”

Another teacher in Ezza South LGA, claimed, “Even the December N150,000 incentive that the Governor gave to government workers was not given to us. Even after concluding that primary school teachers will be given N75,000, till now, we have not received any”.

When contacted, the Commissioner for Education in Ebonyi State (Basic), Prof. Paul Nwaobasi, said the development has not been to his table.

Also, efforts to reach the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Ebonyi State chapter, and Chairman of Ebonyi LGA, Mr Chinedu Uburu, failed.

Calls put across to his mobile were not picked and he was yet to return them until the time of filing this story, on Thursday.