The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) said the strike embarked upon by the union on June 1, would continue in seven states that were yet to implement the 27.5 per cent Teachers Peculiar Allowance.
NUT National President, Mr Michael Olukoya, revealed that four governors of the initial 11 had complied with the implementation of the allowance.
Olukoya said that the states that were yet to implement the peculiar allowance and the N18,000 minimum wage were Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Benue, Kogi, Ebonyi and Zamfara.
“The strike will continue in these states and there is no going back, until our aims and objectives are met by these state governors,’’ he said.
The NUT National Executive Council had, on May 30, directed teachers in Benue, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti and Ogun to embark on the strike.
He said that the union also directed teachers in Edo, Taraba, Kogi, Niger and Zamfara to begin the strike from June 1.
He recalled that in August 2008, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the peculiar allowance for teachers.
Olukoya said, thereafter, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum successfully negotiated with the union and was supposed to be paid with effect from January, 2009.
He said that the non-implementation of the allowance amounted to discrimination against teachers and called on state wings of the union to embark on a stay-at-home strike.
He said that the union had exploited several opportunities during negotiations to resolve the matter, but that failed.
Olukoya said: “Teachers have been patient enough and no, we cannot afford to remain a laughing stock to our members who are quick to see us as toothless bulldogs.’’
