Primary school teachers in the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) FCT Wing have gone on an indefinite strike because of unresolved issues with unpaid entitlements. This strike began on September 18, 2024, causing all public primary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to close.
Comrade Abdullahi Shafa, the State Chairman of the NUT FCT Wing, issued a statement after a meeting of the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) in Gwagwalada, Abuja. The statement instructed teachers to continue the strike until their demands are met.
Recently, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike intervened and helped pay 40% of the 25 months’ minimum wage arrears owed to the teachers. However, there are still unresolved issues. The teachers are waiting for the remaining 60% of these arrears. They are also seeking payments for additional salary increases and allowances. Specifically, they want payments for the 25% and 35% salary increases, the 40% peculiar allowance, the N35,000 wage award, and the correct implementation of the 2022 entitlements agreement.
The union has told teachers to follow only the instructions given by the NUT and to ignore any other directives. In response to the strike, Dr. Hassan Sule, who is the Secretary of the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB), has asked the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to pause their strike while they explore all possible solutions. Dr. Sule acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and emphasized the importance of resolving the issues to avoid further disruption to students’ education. He mentioned that discussions are currently taking place with the leaders of the six Area Councils, which are local government areas within the FCT. These discussions aim to find a way to address the teachers’ concerns and ensure that all outstanding payments and entitlements are properly calculated and paid.
Dr. Sule assured that efforts are being made to quickly determine the exact amount of outstanding payments owed to the teachers. This calculation is crucial for moving forward and ensuring that all financial obligations are met. He also indicated that FCT-UBEB might soon hold a meeting to discuss the situation in more detail and work on finding solutions. The goal is to resolve the teachers’ concerns as efficiently as possible to prevent any further delays or issues in the education system.
