By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) will stage a peaceful protest in Delta State on Thursday, July 30, 2026, over alleged attempts to alter the 2018 check-off dues agreement without its involvement. The union announced the protest on July 24, 2026, saying the action became necessary after it was excluded from a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. According to the NUT, the move threatens industrial harmony, union representation, and the legal framework governing trade unions in the state’s education sector.
NUT Notifies DSS Ahead of Protest
The union has informed the Department of State Services (DSS) about the planned protest and requested security protection for its members.
In a letter dated July 24, Delta State NUT Secretary, Dan Basime, said recent developments could destabilize industrial peace within the education sector.
The union explained that its decision followed a meeting held on July 20 by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government with the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASSUS) and other stakeholders.
The meeting reportedly discussed the reversal of the ₦500 check-off levy deduction by the Office of the Head of Service.
NUT Rejects Exclusion From Stakeholders’ Meeting
The NUT said it formally protested its exclusion in another letter dated July 23 to the Secretary to the State Government.
According to the union, it remains a major stakeholder and a signatory to the 2018 agreement.
It argued that no discussion on the check-off dues should occur without its participation.
Furthermore, the union warned that excluding it from meetings could create divisions and disrupt industrial harmony across Delta’s education sector.
Union Insists 2018 Agreement Remains Binding
The NUT stressed that no association has the authority to alter the existing arrangement outside the legal framework.
It recalled that stakeholders approved a quarterly ₦500 levy during a 2018 meeting convened under former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration.
The union noted that no subsequent stakeholders’ meeting has reviewed or amended that agreement.
Therefore, it described any unilateral attempt to reverse the arrangement as a breach of the understanding reached by all parties.
Trade Union Laws Govern Check-Off Dues
The union maintained that federal laws regulate trade unions and check-off dues.
It added that the Registrar of Trade Unions remains the statutory authority responsible for such matters.
The NUT also reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue and collective bargaining.
However, it cautioned that its peaceful approach should not be mistaken for weakness.
NUT Backs Governor Oborevwori’s Administration
Despite the disagreement, the union expressed support for Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his M.O.R.E. Agenda.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Delta State Government nor ASSUS had responded to the planned protest or the issues raised by the NUT.
If the protest proceeds as scheduled, it is expected to draw fresh attention to the lingering dispute over check-off dues and union representation in Delta State’s education sector.
