IMPACT OF NIGERIAN UNION OF TEACHERS ON EDUCATION SYSTEM A CASE STUDY OF OWERRI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Nigeria Union of Teachers is a known trade union in Nigeria. It was formed to foster a united front for practitioners of the teaching profession in the country. The impact of the union, covers an avenue for bringing forth ideas about the educational development of the country from the perspectives of teachers, improvement in the economic conditions of teachers and general economic security for teachers in the country. The use of nonstandard and unpredictable educational codes for teachers and salary brought about the increase in teachers associations shrooming in various southern Nigerian cities, particularly in Lagos, Abeokuta and Calabar.

The different associations realized that according the objectives of the groups to bring about a united front will create a strong voice for the interest of the teachers. This union was born in a hostile political and climatic environment. From the minutes of the NUT at inauguration, on July 8, 1931 which was a wet Wednesday morning, the teachers associations of Lagos, Agege, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Calabar and Ijebu-Ode joined met in a church Missionary together to form the Nigeria Union of Teachers. The first president of the group and chairman of the union in a letter dated 25th July, addressed to the secretary, T, K. Cameroon, July 1931 and the late Oludotun Ransome Kuti, the husband of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and father of Fela Anikulapo Kuti appealing for the recognition of the shoulders of NUT leadership, when he said: “By entrusting us in a large number of teachers is difficult but a pleasant work of corporation with Education Authorities in this our beloved Nigeria… On May 27, 1972, the union joined with the Northern State Teachers Union, an association founded by Aminu Kano and a few northern Nigerian teachers in 1948. Extensively, the union has live up to it expectation as it has provided a body for the teachers in the country. Several strike actions were carried out by the union.

STATEMENT OF THE GENERAL PROBLEM

The general poor development of the Nigerian educational system has been a cause for a major concern as it has led to the production of below average students. The current poor state of education in Nigeria has been caused by several factors amongst others is the influence of teachers in the system. The educational system cannot be developed without the full involvement of teachers as such the reason for this study.