The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has given condition for reopening of schools on January 18 as directed by the Federal Government, saying that state governments owing their workers four months’ salaries must pay.

The union disclosed on Monday that the teachers are ready to return to classes and ensure compliance with COVID-19 protocols, but the union’s members’ salaries must be paid by the states government owing them before resumption.  

The Secretary-General of NUT, Mike Ene, stated that “We will want to resume. Why not, if not? I do not think anything will make us not resume. We are ready, but the places where we will not resume are in states where government is owing workers, especially states where government is owing four months to any set of workers, either primary and secondary schools. We have asked our teachers to stay at home in such states.

“Besides that, we are very ready. Don’t forget that during COVID-19, we wasted about five months at home. So, I don’t think anything now will make us not to resume. Even though there is this second wave, as teachers, we have known how to take precautions.

“As I speak, I cannot quote the states that are owing because we just started collecting the data, we have just written all the states to tell us the details about payment.

He added that “We have declared a strike in Abia State and so our teachers in Abia State commenced strike on Monday.

“Abia State is owing several months salaries of between 12 and 15 months for both primary and secondary schools and other various things they are owing.”