Hope of parents who were excited that their kids are returning to schools after seven months of sit at home due to the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) dashed following the decision of teachers to chase their pupils home.
The teachers under the auspices of the FCT Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT noted that Area Council Chairmen in the territory have refused to implement the national minimum wage as well as payment of arrears.
Our correspondent who visited one of the LEA Primary School in Kubwa which also houses the Junior Secondary School, Kubwa, the pupils had been chased out of their classrooms from as early as 8am. Only students of the junior secondary school were allowed in, as Secondary school teachers had been paid by the FCT Administration.
It would be recalled that earlier in September, Chairman of the Union, Stephen Knabayi had directed members not to resume work whenever schools were reopened.
He said while the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced the payment of the new minimum wage, the six Area Councils in the territory who are saddled with the payment of primary school teachers have refused to budge.
The FCTA had on October 8 slated the reopening of schools in the territory for Monday, October 12, announcing the cancellation of Third Term and equally warning private schools against demanding fees for the cancelled term.
FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello who gave the directives at a stakeholders meeting in Abuja however added that all boarding schools would be reopened a day earlier.
