The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has warned that it will direct its members to shut down schools in states that fail to implement the new minimum wage for teachers.

The National President of the Union, Comrade Audu Amba, issued the warning in Abuja on Thursday while speaking with journalists at the union’s 2026 Annual Solemn Assembly.

He decried the continued neglect of teachers’ welfare, particularly at the basic education level, stressing that welfare goes beyond salaries and includes a conducive working environment, healthcare services and decent living conditions for teachers and their families.

Amba said the union would no longer tolerate the partial or selective implementation of the minimum wage, noting that while some states have implemented it for their civil servants and secondary school teachers, primary school teachers under local government education authorities have been excluded in several cases.

“In some states, they implemented for state civil servants, including secondary school teachers, but those teaching in primary schools and paid by local governments are finding it difficult to get implementation,” he said.

He cited the example of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where primary school teachers recently embarked on a three-month strike before the minimum wage was implemented.

“In Gombe, there is no proper implementation for primary school teachers. In Zamfara, the same situation persists. After our meeting today, we will take stock of states that are yet to implement the minimum wage for primary school teachers.

“They will shut down primary schools in their respective states until the minimum wage is implemented. It is called basic education for a reason. If it is done right at the basic level, the tertiary level becomes easier.

“Primary and secondary school teachers teach; in the university they lecture. The teacher is key. After the parents, the next person in a child’s life is the teacher.

“Welfare means their salary, their environment where they work and live for themselves, their spouses and their families. That is global best practice in the teaching profession,” he said.

The NUT president lamented that in many public schools across the country, both teachers and pupils operate under deplorable conditions.

“In some localities today, students are sitting on bare floors. The teacher is teaching without even a seat to sit on to mark books. It is alarming. Government is trying, but they need to do more,” he added.

He further said that the teaching profession should not be treated as a last resort for unemployed graduates but made attractive enough to draw the best minds, warning that poor welfare was fuelling the migration of teachers to other countries, including neighbouring African nations.

“Let it be so attractive that people will be looking to join the teaching profession. It should not be the last option for any graduate.”

On his part, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, called for a special salary structure for teachers to reflect their critical role in national development.

“We want a special salary for teachers to reflect their role in society. A teacher is both a character moulder and the bedrock of development. Whether you are an engineer, a medical doctor or a lawyer, you must be trained by a teacher,” Ajaero said.

He added that the welfare of teachers directly affects the quality of education delivered to students, while warning state governments against disobeying the law in the implementation of the minimum wage.

“States should not be disobeying the law in implementing the minimum wage. The mood of the teacher reflects on the students. If the teacher is happy when entering the classroom, the class will be happy,” he stated.

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