Abuja teachers resume strike over unresolved welfare concerns

The Federal Capital Territory Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) resumed strike on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, over unresolved welfare issues between the union and the six area councils of Abuja.

The union declared the strike in a communique signed by its Chairman, Abdullahi Shafa; State Secretary, Margaret Jethro; and State Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.

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

The FCT NUT noted that the action was the outcome of the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting held on Tuesday, September 17.

It added that the SWEC had deliberated on the 14-day ultimatum given to the area councils’ chairmen to pay the teachers their entitlements, saying the ultimatum expired on Tuesday, September 17.

The union said: “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.”

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

Other issues included non-implementation and payment of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increase, 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 on outstanding entitlements of teachers as agreed in 2022.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had intervened and promised to pay 40 per cent 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 per cent of the minimum wage arrears.

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

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

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

The Star