Hunger: Ebonyi teachers begin indefinite strike

The Nigeria Union of Teachers Ebonyi State wing has declared an indefinite strike action in some local government areas over non-payment of salary.

A press release by the Union said the strike is a result of the inability of the council to pay teachers salary for over four months now.

The affected local governments are Edda, Ebonyi, Ezza North, Ezza South, Ishielu, Ivo, and Ohaukwu.

Governor Francis Nwifuru had earlier directed all council chairmen in Ebonyi state to pay October, November, and December salaries to primary school and junior secondary school teachers before December 25, last year.

However, as of the point of filling this report, only a few council chairmen have completed payment of October, November, and December Salaries to primary school teachers in Ebonyi.

No teacher at the primary school level has received his or her January salary as of 4th January 2025 because of the ongoing screening to fish out alleged ghost teachers in the system.

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According to a statement signed by the secretary of NUT Ebonyi State wing, Eld.Comr. Bassey Asuquo, the strike will begin at midnight on Thursday February 6, 2025.

The statement reads, “Sequel to our earlier notice on mobilization for industrial strike action, we have 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 enforcement of the strike action from 12:00am on Thursday February, 6, 2025.

“This includes organising and maintaining solidarity picket lines and monitoring the compliance of the strike action across the affected localities.
The value of these local government chairmen is to meet their obligations to our call on all members to remain steadfast and continue their support for the strike action.