NAGRAT gives conditions under which strike will be called off

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has outlined the conditions that must be met before the ongoing teachers' strike is called off. NAGRAT President, Jacob Anaba, stated that the union will not resume negotiations with the government until there are concrete and binding timelines for resolving the outstanding issues.

During a recent meeting, NAGRAT and the government agreed on potential timelines for addressing the concerns. However, NAGRAT is awaiting further discussions on the specific proposals. Anaba emphasized that the strike will only be lifted once there is tangible action to address the issues.

The union has listed three primary concerns to be resolved: the Collective Agreement, promotion-related payments, and the Deprived Area Allowance. Anaba proposed October 6 as the date for negotiations on the Collective Agreement. However, he clarified that the process of negotiating the agreement would not be a one-day affair and would require a defined start and end date.

Regarding the promotion-related payments, NAGRAT is seeking a clear financial commitment from the government, with the payments to be directly deposited into the bank accounts of eligible teachers. Anaba also welcomed the government's indication that the Deprived Area Allowance would commence in January 2027, but stressed the need for a formal, signed agreement to bind both parties.