The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Chapter, has explained why it’s members have commenced on an indefinite strike today, Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
Our reporter gathered that the indefinite strike by the teachers is coming after a 14-day ultimatum which the union had issued to the six area councils in the territory over non payment of their outstanding entitlements and other unresolved industrial issues.
Pupils who went to school on Wednesday were said to have returned home disappointed, saying their teachers directed them back on getting to the school gates.
The Union said it had directed all the primary school teachers in the territory to resume the suspended strike action with effect from Wednesday.
In a communiqué signed by the State (FCT) Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Shafa, and issued at the end of the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting of the Nigeria Union Of Teachers (NUT) FCT Wing at FCT teachers’ house, Gwagwalada, Abuja, the union said
all Public primary schools in FCT are to remain closed until the Union’s demands are met.
According to the communique, “We appeal to all teachers to remain calm and disregard any counter directives except as directed by the Union.”
“The SWEC-in – session acknowledged and applauded the effort of the Honourable Minister of FCT, His Excellency, Barrister Nyesom E. Wike (CON) on his intervention and payment of 40% of the total sum of 25 months Minimum Wage Arrears to the Primary School Teachers.
“However, the SWEC In Session noted with great displeasure the non response of the Council Chairmen to the fourteen day ultimatum issued to them, nor did they attend to the industrial issues raised.
“Payment of the remaining 60% of the 25 months minimum wage arrears; implementation and payment of arrears of the 25% and 35% salary increase; implementation and payment of arrears of the 40% peculiar allowance; payment of Arrears of the N35,000 wage award; and correct and continuous implementation of the template on outstanding entitlements of the teachers as agreed in 2022.”
Reacting to the development, Secretary, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB), Dr. Hassan Sule, appealed to NUT to suspend strike until all avenues are being exhausted, as discussion with leadership of the six Area Councils is still in progress.
Sule, who is the acting Chairman of the Board, said: “I just finished talking to FCT ALGON chairman and the NUT Chairman now. We sat down with the NUT and ALGON chairmen, and we resolved that they are going to compute how much the outstanding payment is now, so that the ALGON chairman will now write officially for the intervention.
“But, maybe the the timeframe they gave, which the ALGON chairman is complaining that it is too short as they have not finished the computation yet, and they said let us finish all our work.
“Likely, we will be meeting on Friday, based on what I discussed with the ALGON Chairman now.”
