Primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are expected to suspend their three-month strike following a decisive intervention by the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike.
This was disclosed by the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Mr. Chidi Amadi, in Abuja on Tuesday after a closed-door meeting involving the FCT Administration, area council chairmen, leaders of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and members of the National Assembly.
Amadi explained that the meeting, convened by Wike, was the latest in a series of efforts to resolve the prolonged industrial action that has kept thousands of pupils out of school since March.
He announced that the meeting reached a landmark decision to release the accrued 10 per cent Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the area councils for the past six months to offset about 70 per cent of the outstanding minimum wage owed to primary school teachers.
“While this will not clear all arrears at once, it is a significant step towards permanently resolving the crisis and restoring learning across the FCT,” Amadi said.
To tackle the remaining issues, the Minister has directed the formation of a Special Committee made up of representatives from the NUT, FCTA, the area councils and NANS. The committee is expected to submit its report within two weeks, detailing how the remaining concerns will be addressed once and for all.
Amadi further revealed that Wike has also pledged to personally intervene in settling other outstanding matters affecting local government workers to ensure that the area councils return to full operations without further disruptions.
Speaking on behalf of the area council chairmen, Mr. Abubakar Abdullahi confirmed their backing for the resolution, noting that although forfeiting six months of IGR would be tough, it was necessary to secure the education of FCT children.
“We have all agreed to release the funds to settle this matter because we cannot continue to keep our children at home. The Minister has shown leadership, even though by law he cannot seize the councils’ IGR. But because of our collective resolve to end this crisis, we gave our consent,” Abdullahi said.
He appealed to the teachers to reciprocate the gesture and call off the strike without delay.
On his part, the National President of NANS, Olushola Oladoja, praised Wike’s intervention and described it as a courageous decision that put the interest of pupils first.
“The Minister took this step in good faith and the council chairmen supported him because they genuinely want schools reopened. It is our hope that the teachers will respond positively,” Oladoja said.
NUT Chairman, Mohammed Shafa, acknowledged the resolutions but said the union’s State Executive Council would deliberate and announce a final decision soon.
Recalls that the teachers embarked on the indefinite strike in March over the non-implementation of the minimum wage, the 25 and 35 per cent salary increase, the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, the N35,000 wage award and other entitlements agreed upon since 2022.
With this breakthrough, there is renewed hope that classrooms across the FCT will soon reopen, bringing relief to thousands of pupils and parents eager to see an end to the long disruption.
