A statewide industrial action by the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, looms in Kwara State as a result of unmet demands to the state government.

The national body of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) criticised the state government for what it described as continued failure to address long-standing welfare concerns affecting teachers across the state.

In a letter addressed to Governor Abdulraham Abdulrazaq, the union condemned the government’s refusal to implement the 27.5% Teachers Specific Allowance (TSA) and the National Harmonized Teachers Retirement Age Act, 2022.

The letter, dated November 13, 2025, and acknowledged by the Governor’s Office on November 17, was jointly signed by the NUT National President, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, and the Secretary-General, Dr Clinton Ikpitibo.

The NUT stated in the letter that several engagements with government officials between 2023 and 2025 did not yield any positive outcome.

The union expressed disappointment that while the government had approved consolidated salary structures for medical workers, nurses, and judiciary staff, the long-standing demands of teachers remained unaddressed.

It warned that the refusal to implement the 27.5% TSA for TRCN-certified teachers and 21% for non-TRCN-certified teachers had pushed teachers in the state “into a riotous mode,” noting that frustration within the system had reached breaking point.

The NUT 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.

The letter added that over 25 states had already complied with the law, lamenting that Kwara State despite being led by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, had failed to follow suit.

The union called on the governor to convene an emergency meeting before December 13, 2025, stressing that there was still room for peaceful resolution if the government acted promptly.

“We do hope that our interventionist approach is accepted, because to jaw-jaw will be better than to war-war,” the NUT said.

Copies of the letter were sent to the Acting Head of Service, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, the State Controller of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the Kwara chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the NUT.

With tension rising among teachers, the union warned that failure to address the issues urgently, could trigger a fresh industrial action that may disrupt academic activities across the state.

• Fear grips community over alleged threat letter

There was pandemonium within the vicinity of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State on Monday when two students of the institution were allegedly ambushed and attacked on their way back from Owerri Municipality, where they had gone to buy an electricity generating set.

A source close to one of the victims who spoke to our reporter said the two friends were driving back to the school through the Amaeze Obibi-Ezena Road at about 7:30 p.m. on Monday when they saw some people flashing torchlights by the bush side. “They initially thought they were security men and kept driving, but the one on the passenger seat suddenly noticed that those they thought were security men had their faces covered,” the source said.

He continued: “He shouted and told his friend to reverse the car. But as soon as they reversed, the gunmen opened fire and riddled the car with bullets. Fortunately, they escaped unhurt.”

The frightening incident has further fueled reports circulating in the area alleging plans by suspected Fulani herdsmen to launch coordinated attacks on Nekede-where the Federal Polytechnic is located-and neighbouring communities.

Anxiety in the area has intensified due to unconfirmed reports that the gunmen had written a letter to community leaders, demanding a certain amount of money to prevent an imminent attack. It was also alleged that intelligence reports suggest that several armed groups who have infiltrated the area have concluded plans to strike within a specific time frame. These reports further claim that the suspected attackers have been receiving supplies, arms, and ammunition for some time and are being reinforced from outside.

Recall that there have been consistent reports of frightening security challenges in the region, caused by the nefarious activities of gunmen who for a very long time have kidnapped, raped, maimed, and even killed their victims around the FUTO, Ihiagwa, Obinze, Avu, and Oforola axis- all in Owerri West Local Government Area.

The Federal Ministry of Education hereby informs the general public that a message currently circulating on social media platforms, alleging that schools nationwide have been directed to close from 24th November 2025, is false, misleading, and did not originate from the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Education, any State Ministry of Education or any recognized security agency.

The public is strongly advised to rely strictly on verified information issued through the following official channels:

The Federal Government, The Federal Ministry of Education, State Governments and State Ministries of Education Recognised security agencies

Any announcement, advisory, or notice coming from unofficial or unverified sources should be ignored and not shared. Members of the public are urged to always verify the authenticity of information before circulating it in order to curb the spread of misinformation.