Abuja, Nigeria – September 18, 2024
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) FCT Wing has directed all primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to resume their suspended strike action, effective today, September 18, 2024. This decision was made after the Area Council Chairmen failed to meet the teachers’ demands, despite a 14-day ultimatum.
According to Comrade Abdullahi M. Shafa, State Chairman of the NUT FCT Wing, “The State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) deliberated extensively on the issues affecting teachers in the FCT and resolved to resume the suspended strike action due to the non-response of the Council Chairmen to our demands.”
Some of the unresolved issues include:
1. *Payment of Remaining 60% of Minimum Wage Arrears*: The union is demanding the payment of the remaining 60% of the 25 months Minimum Wage Arrears owed to primary school teachers.
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2. *Implementation of Salary Increase*: The union is seeking the implementation and payment of arrears of the 25% and 35% salary increase.
3. *Payment of Peculiar Allowance*: The union is demanding the implementation and payment of arrears of the 40% Peculiar Allowance.
4 *Payment of Wage Award*: The union is seeking the payment of arrears of the N35,000 Wage Award.
5 *Correct Implementation of Template*: The union wants the correct and continuous implementation of the template on outstanding entitlements of teachers, as agreed upon in 2022.
The strike will continue until the Area Council Chairmen meet the union’s demands. Parents are advised to keep their children at home until further notice.
“We appeal to all teachers to remain calm and disregard any counter directives except as directed by the Union,” said Comrade Margaret F. Jethro, State Secretary of the NUT FCT Wing.
The NUT FCT Wing has appreciated the intervention of the Honourable Minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, in paying 40% of the total sum of 25 months Minimum Wage Arrears to primary school teachers. However, the union urges the Minister to ensure that the remaining issues are addressed promptly.
The FCT Administration has yet to comment on the strike.
It would be recalled that the NUT FCT Wing had initially suspended the strike in anticipation of the Area Council Chairmen’s response to their demands. However, with no progress made, the union has been left with no option but to resume the strike action.
The strike is expected to affect all public primary schools in the FCT, leaving thousands of pupils affected.
