FCT primary teachers resume strike over unresolved welfare concerns

The Federal Capital Territory Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) on Wednesday resumed industrial action over unresolved welfare issues between it and the six area councils of the territory.

The union declared the strike in a communiqué signed by its chairman, Mr. Abdullahi Shafa, state secretary, Mrs. Margaret Jethro, and state publicity secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.

The strike is a continuation of earlier ones suspended by the union in October 2023 and in January 2024.

The union, in the communiqué issued in Abuja, explained that the action was the outcome of the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting held on Tuesday.

It added that the SWEC had deliberated on the 14-day ultimatum given to the area councils’ chairmen to pay the teachers their entitlements.

The ultimatum expired on Tuesday, Sept. 17.

“The SWEC, therefore, resolved and directed primary school teachers in the FCT to resume the suspended strike action with effect from Wednesday, Sept. 18.

“All public primary schools in FCT should remain closed, and parents are hereby advised to remain guided by this development until the union’s demands are met.

“We appeal to all teachers to remain calm and disregard any counter directives except as directed by the union,” it added.

The union identified one of the unresolved issues as non-payment of 60 percent of the 25-month-old minimum wage areas.

Other issues included non-implementation and payment of 25 percent and 35 percent salary increases and non-implementation and payment of 40 percent peculiar allowance.

The union is also demanding the payment of the N35,000 wage award arrears and the implementation of the template on outstanding entitlements of teachers as agreed in 2022.

Supreme News reports that the FCT Minister had intervened and promised to pay 40 percent of the outstanding 25-month minimum wage arrears.

As part of the resolution for suspending the strike, the six area councils were expected to pay the remaining 60 percent of the minimum wage arrears.

The teachers acknowledged and applauded Wike for redeeming the 40 percent pledge and frowned at the area councils’ chairmen for failing to fulfil their part of the agreement.

Reacting to the development, Dr. Hassan Sule, acting chairman, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB), appealed to the NUT to suspend the strike.

Sule said that discussion with the chairmen of the area councils was ongoing to resolve the issues.