Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
The Kaduna State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has issued a stern warning to the state government, demanding the immediate implementation of the federal approved ₦70,000 minimum wage for public school teachers or face a total shutdown of academic activities across the state.
The union has set a firm deadline of August 31, 2025, for the government to commence payments, failing which teachers will embark on an indefinite strike that could paralyze the education sector in Kaduna.
Despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s formal approval of the new minimum wage bill on May 29, 2025, thousands of teachers and local government workers in Kaduna State have yet to receive the revised salary structure, leaving them struggling amid skyrocketing inflation and economic hardship.
The NUT Chairman in Kaduna, Comrade Ibrahim Dalhatu, expressed deep frustration over the government’s apparent indifference to teachers’ welfare, accusing officials of deliberate foot-dragging in fulfilling their obligations.
“Our patience has run out, Dalhatu declared during a press briefing on Sunday. “If the government continues to ignore our demands, we will have no choice but to withdraw our services indefinitely. Unfortunately, strike action seems to be the only language the government understands.
Dalhatu emphasized that the delay disproportionately affects teachers and local government employees, who are already among the lowest paid workers yet bear the brunt of rising food prices, transportation costs, and other essential expenses.
The union leader also dismissed the government’s justification for the delay, citing ongoing staff verification exercises as a major challenge. While acknowledging that digital verification had been completed for many workers, Dalhatu questioned why physical verification processes were still pending, describing the situation as “an unnecessary, designed to stall wage adjustments.”
The NUT’s ultimatum comes amid growing discontent among civil servants in Kaduna, with teachers warning that further delays could trigger widespread industrial action . “We are not asking for favors, we are demanding our rightful earnings under the law,”. Teachers shape the future of this state, yet we are treated as an afterthought. Enough is enough.”
If the state government fails to act before the August deadline, Kaduna could witness a total collapse of public school operations, leaving millions of students in an uncertain phase. The union has vowed to mobilize all its members for a statewide strike, urging parents and stakeholders to hold the government accountable for the impending disruption.
“We do not take this decision lightly,” Dalhatu added, “but when the welfare of educators is neglected, the entire education system suffers. The ball is now in the government’s court.”
As tensions escalate, all eyes remain on the Kaduna State government to either heed the teachers’ demands or brace for a major education crisis in the weeks ahead.