The teachers, primarily from public primary schools, initiated an indefinite strike last week due to non-payment of outstanding entitlements and other unresolved issues.

Union chairman Abdullahi Shafa revealed that a recent meeting with area council chairmen and other stakeholders ended in a stalemate, with no progress made towards addressing the teachers’ demands.

“You are aware of the ongoing strike and have no headway yet. We met last Saturday to try and see if anything meaningful would be done to possibly call off the strike, but it was not possible. We are still on it. I will get back to you when we progress,” he stated.

In a communiqué issued following the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting in Abuja, Shafa announced that all primary school teachers in the FCT were directed to resume the suspended strike as of last Wednesday, after a 14-day ultimatum issued to the six area councils expired without resolution. This has left public primary school students and their teachers at home, awaiting an end to the strike.

The Acting Chairman of the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Dr. Hassan Sule, expressed regret that the union had decided to strike when negotiations were still underway with the government. Meanwhile, the union commended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for his intervention, during which he facilitated the payment of 40 percent of the 25-month minimum wage arrears owed to primary school teachers.

As the situation remains unresolved, the uncertainty surrounding the teachers’ strike continues to affect the education of countless children in the FCT. Union leaders are calling for urgent action from the council chairmen to address their concerns and end the strike.

The post FCT Teachers’ Strike Continues as Council Chairmen Fail to Respond appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The strike follows a 14-day ultimatum issued by the FCT Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to the six area councils in the territory.

This strike action comes after an earlier indefinite strike on January 15, 2024, which had been suspended in November 2023. The initial strike aimed to demand the implementation of a 40% peculiar allowance and the payment of 25 months of minimum wage arrears, among other outstanding dues.

Following the January 2024 strike, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, through the Mandate Secretary of the Education Secretariat, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, intervened. On January 30, 2024, it was announced that the FCT Administration would pay 40% of the 25 months’ minimum wage arrears to primary school teachers, while the Area Councils would be responsible for the remaining 60%.

READ ALSO: FCT Minister Nyesom Wike Declares Park and Pay Scheme Illegal

Despite this, the Area Councils have failed to fulfill their part of the agreement, leading the FCT-NUT to resume the strike effective September 18, 2024. Abdullahi Shafa, the State Chairman of the union’s wing, stated that the teachers were left with no choice but to strike due to the council chairmen’s failure to pay the remaining 60% of the arrears owed.

In addition to the demand for the outstanding arrears, the NUT is now calling for an increase in salaries and the payment of the 40% peculiar allowances, which remain unpaid.

READ ALSO: FCT Minister Nyesom Wike Declares Park and Pay Scheme Illegal

“The State Wing Executive Council 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,” Shafa declared.

The union is also demanding arrears for the N35,000 Wage Award, a 25% and 35% salary increase, and the correct implementation of the agreed-upon template on outstanding entitlements, which was agreed upon in 2022.

Parents have been advised to keep their children at home until further notice as the union has pledged to continue the strike until all demands are met by the Area Council chairmen.

“We appeal to all teachers to remain calm and disregard any counter directives except as issued by the Union,” said Margaret Jethro, the State Secretary of the NUT FCT Wing.

Meanwhile, pupils who arrived at school on Wednesday were turned away, disappointed as teachers directed them to return home. Attempts to reach the Mandate Secretary of the Education Secretariat, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, and Area Council Chairmen Christopher Maikalangu of the Abuja Municipal Area Council and John Gabaya of Bwari Area Council for comments were unsuccessful at the time of this report.

The post FCT Teachers Embark on Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid Arrears appeared first on Housing TV Africa.