Lagos teachers commence strike on Monday

The teachers are protesting the non-implementation of their salary increase as promised by the Lagos State government.

The Lagos State Chapter of the National Union of Teachers will embark on an indefinite strike from Monday, September 24, the union said on Wednesday.

The Secretary of the union, Momodu Braimah, said members had no option than to resort to the strike.

“There is no going back, we still stand on our grounds of 27.5 per cent or we remain at home come Monday, Sept. 24, 2012,” he said.

Mr. Braimah said that directives to that effect have been sent out, adding that there would be no cancellation, except the government listened to their demands.

The secretary said that the union had given government several opportunities to guard against the strike but to no avail.

“We have given the government some time to act but they have paid a deaf ear; so, we have exhausted all peaceful means,” he said.

In his reaction, the NUT Chairman, Samson Idowu, said that the teachers were only paid nine per cent of the allowance which was approved in 2008.

“Lagos State has only implemented 9 per cent of the 27.5 per cent teachers’ allowance approved since 2008 ,which 17 states have implemented.

Mr. Idowu said that the union would have a final congress on Thursday to herald the strike.