PRIMARY school teachers in Abuja have embarked on an indefinite strike, following unmet demands from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils.
The strike, which commenced on Wednesday, September 18, has left many pupils of public primary schools across the capital city stranded and unable to attend classes.
The ICIR also observed how the management of one of the public schools in Lugbe – Local Education Agency primary school in Zone 9 – shut down the school and directed its pupils to head home due to the ongoing strike.
The chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Kubwa, Ameh Baba, confirmed the development to Daily Trust, stating that the decision to embark on the industrial action was made to press their demands.
According to him, a resolution was taken before the union embarked on the strike, adding the decision as a result of the failure of the six area councils to fulfil their pledge to settle 60 per cent owed minimum wage arrears.
He further threatened that the union, alongside teachers from secondary, would embark on a protest if their demands were unmet after seven days.
The union warned, “This strike we started today is just the beginning. If the government does not respond after about seven days, we are going to picket the area councils’ secretariats.
“It will also be followed by the protest as well as solidarity from the secondary school teachers in the long run. But as of now, it will affect the JSS 1 incoming students, because their result is due for release,” he added.
The Primary School Teachers in the FCT embarked on an indefinite strike action on September 11, 2023, to compel the government to pay a 40 per cent peculiar allowance and pay another 25 months’ minimum wage arrears, among other outstanding debts.
However, according to the teachers, following assurances from the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, the union suspended the strike for six weeks.
With Wike’s intervention, who vowed to pay 40 per cent of the allowance, the area council chairmen were to pay the remaining 60 per cent. Despite this agreement, the chairmen reportedly failed to pay, prompting the teachers to resume their strike.
The ICIR gathered that Wike fulfilled its part of the bargain.
“The Union is worried that the six weeks given expired on November 7th, 2023. The committee put in place to look into the issues has also completed its work, but nothing positive has taken place.
“We are concerned that a series of meetings have taken place, but the primary school teachers remain in a pathetic situation and continue to bear the brunt of the high cost of living attributable to the removal of fuel subsidies without succour from anywhere,” the union added.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M