The teachers gave a 14-day ultimatum to the state government and local government councils in Bayelsa to address the plights of secondary and primary school teachers across the state or face industrial action.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has threatened to commence an indefinite strike in public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa over its demand for N30,000 minimum wage and promotion arrears.
The teachers said that it was regrettable that in spite of Bayelsa's position amongst the top four states with the highest earnings from the federation, the welfare of teachers was neglected.
It was gathered that the union took the decision at an executive meeting on Wednesday, October 12, after its three-day warning strike failed to compel the Bayelsa government to act.
The teachers gave a 14-day ultimatum to the state government and local government councils in Bayelsa to address the plights of secondary and primary school teachers across the state or face industrial action.
These, according to the NUT included the inability of both state and local governments to implement the N30,000 minimum wage and promotion of primary school teachers in the state.
The union said teachers experienced untold hardship as a result of the non-payment of promotion arrears to both primary and secondary school teachers in the state.
NUT expressed dissatisfaction with the government's negligence of the plights of teachers who play critical roles in the state, despite engaging them at different forums.
The union said the attitude of the government has brought nothing but humiliation and frustration to primary and secondary school teachers in the state.
It said the 14-day ultimatum took effect from October 13 as failure to address the issues within the limit of the ultimatum would force teachers in the state to go on strike.
The strike notice was ratified by the constituent eight local government areas and branches of NUT in Bayelsa.
Signatories to the communiqué after the meeting include Ikiba Izibenidie, Chairman, NUT Yenagoa Branch; Ekereke Aruaman, Chairman, NUT Ogbia; Tarabina Ebikibina, Chairman, NUT Kolokuma/Opukima and Amakiri Idibiye, Chairman, NUT Nembe.
Others are Koko Michael, Chairman, NUT Ekeremor; Dokubo Innocent, Chairman, NUT Brass; Akadah Emomotimi, Chairman, NUT Sagbama and Sudouwei Solomon, Chairman, NUT Southern Ijaw.
Meanwhile, Dr Gentle Emelah, Bayelsa education commissioner, did not answer his calls and also did not reply to text messages requesting his reaction to the issue.
Schools in Bayelsa closed on August 29 due to an expected flood and were slated to reopen on November 13.