By Daniel Tyokua
The FCT primary school teachers under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) have suspended their strike.
NUT had on September, 18, 2024 directed Local Education Authority (LEA) primary school teachers across the six area councils to embark on strike over non-payment of its members remaining 60 percent of the 25 months minimum wage arrears, non-implementation/payment of arrears of the 40 percent peculiar allowance, among other benefits.
Briefing journalists at the end of an emergency State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting at the teachers house in Gwagwalada on Monday, the Chairman of the NUT in the FCT, Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Shafas, said the decision to suspend the strike followed renewed commitment of the FCT Minister, Nysome Wike, towards the payment of the remaining 60 percent.
He said Wike had during the meeting with the leadership of the union directed the FCT treasury department to immediately use the area council chairmen’s 10 percent IGR accruals to pay the teachers.
According to him, the SWEC in session also considered the consistent and positive intervention of the minister’s commitment to look into other demands of the teachers to suspend the strike.
The union, however, appealed to the minister to kindly take necessary steps in ensuring the implementation of its members 40 percent peculiar allowance, N35,000 wage award and 25 percent and 35 percent upward salary review with immediate effect after the minimum wage arrears are settled.
He expressed dismay over pathetic situation of the primary school teachers welfare in the FCT as a result of the non-commitment of the management of the area councils to give teachers their entitlements despite the harsh economic realities in the country.
“To this end, the SWEC in session hereby appealed to all primary school teachers in the FCT to, with immediate effect from Tuesday, October, 8, 2024, return to their classrooms and continue with their legitimate duties as the union will continue to intensify efforts in ensuring the settlement of all the outstanding entitlements and the improvement of their welfare,” he said.
