RismadarVoice Reporters
January 9, 2026
Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Abia State chapter, has suspended its planned indefinite strike action, following a two-day technical meeting with the Acting Secretary to the Abia State Government, Dr Emmanuel Meribole.
The decision was announced in a statement jointly signed on Friday by the State Chairman of the union, Mr Madu Friday, and the State Secretary, Mrs Nnenna Okonkwo.
Recall that the union had, on January 5, 2026, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Abia State Government over unresolved welfare issues affecting teachers in the state.
According to Friday, Governor Alex Otti, upon being briefed on the situation, directed the Acting Secretary to the State Government to intervene, leading to negotiations between the union and government representatives.
He said the meeting resulted in a Memorandum of Action, outlining concrete steps to address the union’s demands.
Part of the agreement states that teachers who were successful under the 65/40 years service elongation policy would be immediately reinstated and paid at least two months’ salary as a demonstration of government commitment.
The statement further noted that teachers who scored 60 per cent and above in the 2022/2023 promotion exercise would receive their Grade Level 35 (Gen.35) within the first week of schools’ resumption, through their respective Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs).
It was also agreed that the Teachers’ Salary Structure (TSS), amounting to 27.5 per cent of basic salary, would be included in the January 2026 salary for primary school teachers.
In addition, the minimum wage and consequential adjustments for senior secondary school teachers are to reflect in the January 2026 salary, with arrears to be paid subsequently.
On leave allowances, the union said payments would commence once required specifications are ratified and identified anomalies resolved.
The statement added that due to complexities surrounding salary arrears for junior secondary and primary school teachers, salary harmonisation and running costs, a committee has been set up to resolve the issues within seven working days.
Following the agreement, the union convened an emergency State Working Committee meeting, where it resolved to withhold the seven-day ultimatum, to allow the government time to implement the resolutions.
The union commended Governor Otti for what it described as his swift, teacher-friendly intervention, and expressed gratitude to the Acting SSG, as well as the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Labour Matters, and the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education.
Consequently, the NUT confirmed that schools will resume on Monday, January 12, 2026, as directed by the state government, urging teachers to remain law abiding, committed to their duties.
