Public school teachers in Kwara State have passed a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), citing repeated neglect of their welfare and failure to defend their interests.

The decision was made during a protest at the NUT headquarters in Ilorin on Tuesday, where teachers criticized the union under Yusuf Wahab Abiola for being ineffective, self-serving, and politically compromised.

“It is unfortunate, regrettable, and insulting that the union, which should serve as the voice and shield of its members, has once again betrayed the interests and collective demands of teachers in the state,” the protesting teachers said.

The teachers clarified that their protest was not directed against the Kwara State Government but rather against the union’s leadership for failing to represent them adequately.

They highlighted long-standing grievances, including exclusion from allowances granted to other sectors, delayed palliative payments, and insufficient representation in policy decisions affecting teachers.

“We are demanding accountability from our union, not fighting the government,” they stressed.

The teachers also rejected threats issued by the NUT leadership against protestors, describing the warnings as politically motivated and a betrayal of members’ interests.

“Therefore, the teachers of Kwara State hereby pass a VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE in the current leadership of the Kwara NUT. We no longer recognize Comrade Yusuf Wahab Agboola and his executive as representatives of our struggles. We are reclaiming our voice, our dignity, and our right to demand what is rightfully ours,” they declared.

Previously, NUT Chairman Yusuf Wahab Agboola and Deputy Secretary-General Moni Mike Modesty had warned teachers against joining the protest, stating that any public demonstration would be undertaken “at their own peril.”