Members of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) have expressed frustration over the lack of response from council chairmen regarding their ongoing strike, which has now entered its sixth day.
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.