The union was formally inaugurated in 1931, it came about partly as a result of vulnerabilities exposed by the
Great Depression, which led to cuts in teachers salaries and a seeming lack of
job security. The use of irregular and unpredictable educational codes for teachers and salary cuts led to an increase in teachers associations mushrooming in various southern Nigerian cities, particularly in
Calabar,
Lagos, and
Abeokuta. The various associations, however, realized that harmonizing the objectives of the groups to bring about a united front will create a powerful vocal union for the interest of the teachers. On July 8, 1931, the teachers associations of Lagos, Agege, Abeokuta,
Ibadan, Calabar and Ijebu-Ode joined together to form the Nigeria Union of Teachers. The first president of the group and chairman of the July 1931 meeting was the Rev.
Oludotun Ransome Kuti, the husband of Chief
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and father of
Fela Anikulapo Kuti. On Children's Day, May 27, 1972, Chief Omoz Oarhe, the N.U.T. president, oversaw the merger with the Northern State Teachers Union, an association founded by Mallam
Aminu Kano and a few northern Nigerian teachers in 1948. To some extent, the union has lived up to it expectations as it has provided an umbrella body for the teachers of the country. Several strike actions were embarked upon at the instance of the union. ==References==