Nigeria: EI expresses its support to the national strike action of Nigerian teachers

Since 1992, NUT has been requesting a separate condition of service and salary structure for teachers in primary and secondary schools. In 2003, the Teachers Salary Structure (TSS) was approved unanimously by the National Council on Education (NCE). However, five years later, still no significant action has been taken by the Nigerian authorities for the effective implementation of the TSS. While the strike has been running for three weeks, the dispute remains unresolved and the negotiations between NUT and the government are suspended.

Below a letter from Education International General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen to His Excellency Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in English:

His Excellency Umaru Musa Yar'Adua

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Aso Rock Villa,

Asokoro District,

Abuja,

NIGERIA

Fax: +234-9-2347546

Brussels, 17 July 2008

Your Excellency,

I write to express the concern of Education International with the lack of resolution of the problem of the implementation of the Teachers Salary Structure (TSS). The nationwide industrial action of Nigerian teachers, who have been on strike since last 30 June, is a very clear sign that an improvement of teacher wages in Nigeria is urgently needed and can no longer be postponed.

As a global union federation of education unions, Education International includes the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) among its affiliates. Since 1992, NUT has been requesting a separate condition of service and salary structure for teachers in primary and secondary schools. After a long negotiation process, the National Council on Education (NCE) finally approved unanimously the Teachers Salary Structure in October 2003. Five years later, still no significant action has been taken by your government for the effective implementation of the TSS.

Teachers are among the lowest paid professionals in Nigeria. It is high time your government took responsibility and implemented the promised Teachers Salary Structures, in order to provide all Nigerian teachers with salary and working conditions in accordance with the importance of education to the social and economic development of Nigeria. We urge you to take the necessary steps immediately in order to satisfy the legitimate demands of the teachers.

Education International fully supports the actions of our Nigerian colleagues and calls on your government to take the necessary steps immediately to resolve the dispute.

Yours sincerely,

Fred van Leeuwen

General Secretary

Education International

Cc:

Minister of Education, Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu

Minister of Labour, Hassan Lawal

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Babgana Kingibe

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Oladimeji Sabur Bankole

President of the Senate, David Mark

Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT

International Trade Union Confederation - Africa

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