The Nigerian Union of Teachers, Abia State chapter has suspended its industrial action in the state.
The Chairman of the NUT, Comrade Kizito A. Kalu, and the State Secretary Mrs. Nnenna Okonkwo, in a statement, said the decision to suspend the strike was reached after the intervention and elaborate deliberations by the NUT, National leadership on the plight of Abia Teachers with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Monday, March 1, 2021.
According to the statement, the government has agreed to prioritise the payment of teachers’ salaries, noting that the state government also agreed to pay all the outstanding arrears of salaries owed to both Senior and Junior Secondary School teachers in the state before the end of 2021.
The statement partly read, “The government has agreed to pay the basic school teachers the N10,000 added on salaries of all workers in the state.
“The issues on policy matters will also be addressed when the whole documentation is made available e.g. promotion implementation, leave grants, and others.
“The state Government has equally directed that the check-off dues and Teachers’ Retirement Contributions should be paid along with every salary payment of teachers.
“On the foregoing, and based on the understanding reached with the NUT leadership, we have been directed to inform you that the ongoing strike action is hereby suspended. Teachers are by this notice directed to go back to classes tomorrow Wednesday 3rd March 2021.
“The National leadership commends your doggedness and sustainability throughout the period of the strike action.
“We want to sincerely appreciate our amiable governor, His Excellency, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for his timely intervention and we pray that those offices involved in the implementation of all the resolutions will do the needful.”