The Federal Capital Territory’s Nigerian Union of Teachers on Wednesday, resumed industrial action over unresolved welfare issues.
The strike was announced in a communique signed by its chairman, Abdullahi Shafa; secretary, Margaret Jethro; and spokesperson, Ibukun Adekeye.
The strike is a continuation of earlier ones suspended by the union in October 2023 and January 2024.
In the communiqué, the union 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’ chairpersons to pay the teachers their entitlements.
The ultimatum expired on Tuesday, September 17.
“The SWEC, therefore, resolved and directed primary school teachers in the FCT to resume the suspended strike action with effect from Wednesday, September 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 per cent of the 25-month-old minimum wage. Other issues included non-implementation and payment of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases and non-implementation and payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance.
The union is also demanding payment of the N35,000 wage award arrears and the implementation of the template for outstanding entitlements of teachers as agreed in 2022.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had intervened and promised to pay 40 per cent of the outstanding 25 months’ minimum wage arrears. As part of the resolution for suspending the strike, the six area councils were expected to pay 60 per cent of the minimum wage arrears.
The teachers commended Mr Wike for redeeming the 40 per cent pledge and frowned at the area councils’ chairpersons for failing to fulfil their part of the agreement.
Reacting to the development, Hassan Sule, acting chairman of the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB), appealed to the NUT to suspend the strike.
Mr Sule said that discussions with the chairpersons of the area councils were ongoing to resolve the issues.
