The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Delta State Wing, has announced plans to stage a peaceful protest on Thursday over what it described as attempts to polarize the union and undermine the stakeholders’ agreement reached on August 27, 2018, involving the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASSUS).
The union formally notified the Department of State Services (DSS) of the planned protest in a letter dated July 24 and signed by its State Secretary, Comrade Dan Basime, requesting security protection for members participating in the demonstration.
According to the NUT, the protest became necessary following recent developments which it said threaten industrial harmony and seek to reopen issues that were conclusively resolved through the 2018 stakeholders’ agreement.
The dispute follows a meeting convened on July 20 by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) with ASSUS and other stakeholders to discuss the reversal of the ₦500 levy deduction by the Office of the Head of Service.
In a separate letter dated July 23 to the SSG, the NUT condemned its exclusion from the meeting, describing the decision as unacceptable. The union argued that, as a key stakeholder and signatory to the 2018 agreement, no deliberation on matters affecting the agreement should have taken place without its participation.
It warned that discussing issues relating to the union in its absence could undermine industrial peace and create unnecessary divisions within the state’s education sector.
The NUT further maintained that matters relating to trade unions and check-off dues are governed by federal law and fall under the statutory authority of the Registrar of Trade Unions. It stressed that no association has the legal authority to unilaterally alter existing arrangements outside the prescribed legal framework.
Recalling the August 27, 2018 stakeholders’ meeting convened by former Governor Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the union stated that all parties agreed to a quarterly ₦500 levy and noted that no subsequent meeting had been held to review or amend the resolution. It insisted that any attempt to reverse or modify the agreement without the involvement of all signatories would amount to a breach of the existing understanding.
While reaffirming its commitment to dialogue and collective bargaining, the NUT said its preference for peaceful engagement should not be misconstrued as weakness. The union also expressed support for the administration of Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and its M.O.R.E. Agenda.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Delta State Government nor ASSUS had issued an official response to the NUT’s notification of the planned protest or the concerns raised.
If held, the protest is expected to renew public attention on one of Delta State’s longest-running labour disputes, increasing pressure on all parties to pursue constructive dialogue and reach a resolution that preserves industrial harmony and stability within the state’s education sector.
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