Benue Teachers Agree To Forgo 2 Years’ Salary Arrears In Order To End 8-Month Old Strike

Benue State Governor.

Public primary school teachers in Benue have accepted to forgo the arrears of their minimum wage which had accrued from 2011 to 2013 says Mr Godwin Anya, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on Friday in#Makurdi.

He said the union had to drop some of its demands during negotiations with Government to end its long drawn out strike on Thursday.Anya said the victims of the eight months strike were the pupils, who had been out of school, some of who had engaged in unwholesome activities.

``Our decision to end the strike by letting go some of our demands was to save the future of these children.’’He said the teachers had agreed to resume classes on July 7, while the staggered payment of their salary arrears would commence on July 14.Anya added that payment of the minimum wage would be backdated to January.

He commended the teachers for their steadfastness during the strike and described their action as ``sacrifice for the growth of education in the state.’’

Suswam also promised to begin payment of all outstanding salaries in a fortnight.

Classes will resume next week,Governor Suswam signs agreement not to victimize teachers too.