We will embark on an indefinite strike over non-payment of Minimum Wage Says Teachers From Southern Borno LGAs

Tom Garba

Teachers in Askira Uba, Biu, Chibok and Hawul LGAs are set to embark on an indefinite strike over the non-payment of 18 thousand Naira minimum wage.

The teachers  who are from the worst hit LGAs, where the Boko Haram attack has been incessant in southern Borno lamented how they have been marginalised and been discriminated in the state’s teachers’ salaries scheme.

A letter signed by the National Union of teachers ( NUT) Biu LGA chapter of the union, comrade  Habu Suleiman and presented  copies to Journalists in Yola said they are not satisfied in the way and manner the new minimum wage is paid.

Comrade Suleiman further explained that;” despite same state and same Primary Education  Board, but they are discriminately paid where some LEAs are receiving 60%, some 40%, some 30%, some 20% and some 0% while their counterparts in the state ministries are receiving 100%”.

Habu also lamented that the affected LGAs were always on routine verification since 2011 to 2013, but the committees could not okay their new salaries to be implemented only to sack many teachers, many others have been teaching with months of unpaid salaries, serious deduction of their yearly increment, all their leave grants and promotion were totally seized.

He reiterated that insurgency could not retard them to work even as they are in the high threads of the attacks, only Chibok and Askira Uba schools were totally closed then because of nonstop of Boko Haram attacks.

He concluded that the Government should not equally forget their member’s who put on their retirement for more than a year and has  not receive pension or gratuity, even as he said that they have decided to remain at home on resumption of schools as it is the weapon to use in addressing their problems.