Kaduna teachers threaten strike over delayed implementation of N70,000 minimum wage

The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has issued a warning to the state government, demanding full implementation of the newly approved ₦70,000 minimum wage or risk a total shutdown of schools across the state.

The union gave the government until the end of August 2025 to begin payment, or face a statewide industrial action by teachers in public schools.

Despite the presidential assent to the new minimum wage bill on May 29, 2025, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, public school teachers and other workers, especially those on local government payrolls in Kaduna State, are yet to see any adjustment to their salaries.

Speaking to journalists on Sunday, NUT Chairman in Kaduna State, Comrade Ibrahim Dalhatu, expressed disappointment over what he described as continued disregard for teachers’ welfare by the government.

Dalhatu said the union would be left with no other option but to embark on an indefinite strike if the situation remains unresolved.

“In the event that the government fails to act, we have no alternative but to commence an indefinite strike,” he stated. “Our patience is wearing thin, and this is the only language they seem to understand.”

He added that the delay is affecting not just teachers but a wide category of civil servants, particularly those whose salaries are paid through local government funds.

“It’s disheartening that teachers and other local government workers in Kaduna are still excluded from the ₦70,000 minimum wage, despite being among the most affected by rising living costs,” he said.

Dalhatu also criticized the slow pace of staff verification, which the government claims is a prerequisite for the new salary scale. While much of the screening has reportedly been done digitally, he questioned why the physical verification process was still pending.

The teachers’ union insists that if the wage increase is not implemented promptly, it will be forced to take decisive action to demand its rights, signaling possible disruption of academic activities in the coming weeks.

Kaduna teachers threaten strike over delayed implementation of N70,000 minimum wage