A potential statewide industrial action by teachers in Kwara State, Nigeria, is looming due to unmet demands by the state government. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has criticized the government for its failure to address long-standing welfare concerns affecting teachers.

In a letter to Governor Abdulraham Abdulrazaq, the NUT expressed disappointment over the government’s refusal to implement the 27.5% Teachers Specific Allowance (TSA) and the National Harmonized Teachers Retirement Age Act, 2022. The union noted that while the government has approved consolidated salary structures for other professions, teachers’ demands remain unaddressed.

The letter, signed by NUT National President Comrade Audu Titus Amba and Secretary-General Dr. Clinton Ikpitibo, stated that engagements with government officials between 2023 and 2025 yielded no positive outcome. The NUT warned that the refusal to implement the TSA has pushed teachers into a state of frustration, which could lead to industrial action.

The union also criticized the government’s failure to implement the National Harmonized Teachers Retirement Age Act, which extends teachers’ retirement age to 65 years or 40 years in service. Over 25 states have already complied with the law, but Kwara State, led by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, has not followed suit.

The NUT called on the governor to convene an emergency meeting before December 13, 2025, to address the issues. The union emphasized that a peaceful resolution is still possible if the government acts promptly. Copies of the letter were sent to relevant state officials and labor organizations.

With tensions rising among teachers, the union warned that failure to address the issues urgently could trigger a fresh industrial action, disrupting academic activities across the state. The potential industrial action highlights the need for the state government to address the welfare concerns of teachers to maintain stability in the education sector.