Strike Looms as Abia Teachers Spoil for Action Over Unpaid Salaries, Welfare Issues
Teachers across public primary and secondary schools in Abia State are set to down tools starting Thursday, April 24, 2025, following the expiration of multiple ultimatums issued to the state government over unpaid salaries and unresolved welfare issues.
This development comes as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Abia State chapter, has formally announced its decision to commence an indefinite industrial action.
In a strongly worded communiqué jointly signed by the State Chairman of the NUT, Comrade Madu C. Friday, and the State Secretary, Mrs. Nnenna Okonkwo, the union expressed its deep frustration and disappointment over what it described as the persistent neglect of teachers’ welfare by the Abia State Government.
According to the union, the decision to embark on the strike follows the government’s failure to respond to a 14-day ultimatum issued on March 28, 2025, which expired on April 11, 2025. A follow-up 7-day final notice was then served on April 16, giving the government until April 23 to act—an ultimatum that is also set to expire without any meaningful engagement or resolution.
The union stated that it had exhausted all peaceful avenues of negotiation before resorting to strike action, noting that the patience of teachers in the state had been stretched to its limits.
Many teachers are reportedly owed several months’ worth of salaries and pensions, despite repeated appeals and promises from the government.
Teachers in Abia claim they were left out of the updated salary structure applied in March 2025, which has worsened their financial hardship,.added to
failure to implement the 65 years retirement age and 40 years of service policy.
Despite approval at the federal level and adoption by other states, the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) continues to retire teachers under the old 60 years/35 years policy.
Teachers allege irregular promotion practices and non-payment of promotion-related financial entitlements for several years.
General neglect of the education sector. The union further lamented what it described as “the government’s lack of political will to prioritize basic education in the state.”
The NUT has called on Governor Alex Otti to immediately address the concerns of teachers to avert the looming disruption in the state’s education sector. They warned that unless the government takes decisive steps to resolve the issues, the strike will continue indefinitely, affecting thousands of students and possibly crippling public education in the state.
“We have made every effort to engage the government in dialogue. Unfortunately, those efforts have been ignored. Teachers can no longer feed their families or meet basic needs. Enough is enough,” the communiqué read.
Parents and education stakeholders have begun to express concern over the impending strike, especially with examinations around the corner for many students. Some civil society organizations are also urging the government to open immediate dialogue with the teachers to prevent further damage to the already fragile educational system in Abia.
“This strike, if allowed to proceed, will set back the academic calendar and further demoralize both teachers and students. We urge the state government to engage the union leaders meaningfully and find a resolution,” said Mr. Ikechukwu Umeh, an education activist based in Umuahia.
As of the time of this report, the Abia State Government has yet to issue an official response to the NUT’s strike notice. Attempts to reach the Commissioner for Education and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor for comments have so far been unsuccessful.
The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the government will move to resolve the crisis or allow the strike to go ahead, potentially deepening the educational challenges in the state.
