The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has announced its full participation in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strike, leading to calls for the suspension of the ongoing West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Despite this, Dr. Amos Dangut, Head of the Nigeria National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), appealed in an interview with The PUNCH for an exemption from the strike to ensure the WASSCE can continue without disruptions.
However, Dr. Mike Ike-Ene, Secretary General of NUT, stated that teachers in Nigeria are among the worst affected by low salaries, justifying their involvement in the strike. He emphasized that the strike, which began on Monday, June 3, 2024, is a response to the Federal Government’s refusal to increase the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.
The WASSCE, which commenced on April 30, has been affected by the strike. When asked how the exams would proceed if the NUT fully participates in the strike, Ike-Ene responded, “Let WASSCE find its level. They only give stipends to teachers, they don’t pay us adequately. You cannot be loyal to someone who only pays you insufficiently. If WASSCE will not hold, so be it. We are not serious at all in this country.”
The strike disrupted Monday’s exams, which included Physics 1 and 2 (essay and objective), and is set to impact Tuesday’s exams as well, which include Economics 1 and 2 (essay and objective), and French 1 and 2 (essay and objective).
Ike-Ene reiterated the NUT’s commitment to the strike, highlighting the severe financial struggles faced by teachers. “I issued a letter over the weekend instructing all our members to participate in the strike. We are fully engaged because we have been severely impacted. Are you aware that some Local Government Areas have not paid the N30,000 minimum wage?”
He further detailed the dire situation in various states, saying, “Borno State has failed to meet the minimum wage requirement of N18,000; in Sokoto and other places in the north, people are still taking home N12,000. We are fully committed to the directive until a new minimum wage is established. We have communicated this directive clearly to our members.”
