What is the cause of the strike?
The strike is about the non-implementation of minimum wage to primary school teachers in Benue State.
When did it start?
It started October 4, 2013 and it entered the eight month in June, this year.
What has the union done to make government accede to its demand?
We met with the government before embarking on this long strike. The minimum wage was implemented in November 2011 for all the workers in the state. In December, 2011, members of the National Union of Local Government Employees in the state were paid the minimum wage. But the members of the NUT were left out. We went on two months strike in January, 2012 to demand the payment of the minimum wage to our members too. Then, the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress intervened. On the directive of the NLC, we suspended the strike. We then handed over the matter to the state branch of the NLC to fight for us since the minimum wage was fixed by it in the first place. We were hopeful that the matter would be best handled. When we noticed that nothing came out of the NLC intervention for over a year, the national body of the NUT took up the matter. On June 1, 2013, the national body directed us to go on strike. But barely two weeks into the strike, the governor stepped in and urged us to end it. He sent a delegation to Abuja to meet with the leadership of the NUT. The state deputy governor led the delegation. At the meeting with our national body, an agreement was signed that by August 1, 2013, the minimum wage would be implemented for our members. After their return from Abuja, the state delegation asked us to go and verify the actual number of our members. I headed the team that went to conduct the verification execise. We did a satisfactory work and came back with the results. We were not asked for the results of the verification exercise we did and that was how the exercise died a natural death. The August that the governor promised to pay our members the minimum wage came and nothing happened. September also came and nothing happened. In October, the national body directed us to resume the strike. That was why in October 24, 2013, we proceeded on a fresh strike and it has yet to be called off.
What is the population of the primary school teachers in the state?
As a union, we have not been able to take stock of the number of teachers and that of the schools in recent time. The State Universal Basic Education Board will have that record. We had a verification exercise last year and we were over 20,000 then. It is only a new verification exercise that will reveal our actual number now.
Is it true that over 300 primary school teachers in the state have died as the strike lingers?
People die every day and everywhere. Teachers die like other people in other professions. Even without strike in Benue State, teachers die. I cannot say the number of primary school teachers that are dead in the state as we continue the strike. There are branch chairmen and their executives. They are the ones who can give us the record of the number of teachers who have died in each of the branches in the state. We will only know as a state body if they tell us and give us reports of the development.
What is the situation with the pupils regarding the closure of schools?
When something like this happens, it will no doubt affect the pupils. But we cannot help it. We have to fight for our rights. Some parents of the pupils who can afford fees of private schools have enrolled them there. Some are waiting for the schools to be reopened.
What is the implication of this prolonged strike on primary school education in Benue State?
It is a very negative development in the primary education sector in the state. It is almost one academic year that is lost if the strike continues until September. We don’t even know how the primary six pupils will cope especially those who are at home doing nothing. It means the pupils will not receive any learning for a complete session. It is not healthy at all. The issue is pathetic. As we talk about the implication of the strike on the pupils, it also affects the teachers because most of them have no other job, especially those living in urban areas. Teaching is the only thing that they make a living from. We have never tasted the minimum wage since it was fixed in November, 2011. We don’t know whether it is bitter or sweet.
What efforts have leaders in the state made to end the strike?
Some traditional rulers and religious leaders in the state had intervened by urging the governor to do all within his power to end the strike. Stakeholders also continue to mediate in order to end the strike.
When do you think the strike will end?
I am hopeful that the strike will end soon. But we will only call it off when our demand is met. I believe the government will do something to our demand. All we are being told at the moment is that there is no money. But we are saying since they have paid others, they should pay us too. We are part of government workers. However, with the on-going discussion with the national leadership of our union, the strike will, hopefully, be called off soon. The salaries of primary school teachers in the state are paid through the local government funds and local government workers continue to receive the minimum wage. Our major demand now is the payment of minimum wage which other workers in the state receive. I was part of the negotiating team for the minimum wage with the government. I negotiated on behalf of my colleagues. It is unfair that after the approval of the wage, our members were excluded. This is the issue we have with the government for now. If there are other issues, we will discuss them after solving this one. We have been so considerate with government. It is clear that the minimum wage is affecting only the teachers. We will understand if other government workers are also affected.
What is your advice to the government?
My advice to the government is that it should know that enough is enough. The government should have a fruitful dialogue with our national body so that our children can return to classes.
What do you say to parents and your members?
I urge the parents to be calm because the matter will soon be laid to rest. Their children will soon return to classes and the damage caused will be redressed. To my colleagues, I know that to stay without salary for eight months is not a joke. I want to appreciate their cooperation given to the union. I hope that very soon we will resume work.
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