Academic activities were paralysed in public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa State following the strike action by the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) over outstanding salaries.

Primary school teachers are being owed eight months salary backlog, while secondary school teachers arrears stand at four months.

There was full compliance with the directive from the national headquarters of NUT to state chapters as teachers stayed away from the classroom in some of the public schools visited within the state capital and its environs.

St Mathias Primary School and St Jude Secondary School Amarata in Yenagoa were deserted and under locks on Wednesday.

John Toinpere, the state chapter Chairman of NUT, had said on Tuesday that the directive followed the expiration of the 30-day ultimatum given by the National Executive Council of the NUT.

“The lingering issues prompting the industrial action ranges from non-payment of seven-and-a-half months and four-and-a-half months salary to primary and secondary schools teachers respectively.

“Also non-augmenting the salaries of primary school teachers, acute shortage of teachers and schools, inadequate provision of instructional materials, non-promotion of teachers since 2013.

“Non-implementation of promotion from 2015 till date, non-payment of N18,000 minimum wage arrears to teachers in the state, amongst others.

“And until the salary arrears are paid completely to both the primary and secondary school teachers, we will not resume work,” he threatened.

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