NUT vows to shut down schools nationwide if salary is ceded to LG

The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) plans to shut down schools if the National Assembly goes ahead to cede responsibility of paying primary school teachers’ salary to local government in the ongoing constitution amendment for local government autonomy.

Deputy National President of the Union, Nelson Onam who disclosed this to journalists in Abakaliki during the celebration of 2013 Ebonyi Teachers day, said the directive was reached during the union’s executive meeting recently.

He explained that teachers’ services nationwide, both in primary and secondary schools, would be withdrawn if the National Assembly cedes the running and payment of primary school teachers’ salary to local government as it were before. 

He however reminded the National Assembly to respect the Supreme Court ruling of 2003 which gave state governments the authority to run the affairs of primary schools as the union would not rest at nothing in jeopardizing any changes that would restore the old experience where primary school teachers’ salary were not only delayed but owed for months.