Teachers in FCT declare strike, point finger at Wike for inaction on demands
Teachers in primary schools across the Federal Capital Territory have urged parents and guardians to keep their children at home starting next Monday, resuming a strike previously called off last year due to authorities failing to address their grievances.
The decision to resume the strike emerged from an emergency meeting of the FCT Wing Standing Committee (SWSC) of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) held in Abuja on Friday.
In a communique issued after the meeting and signed by SWC Chairman, Mr. Abdullahi Shafas, Ms. Margaret Jethro, and Secretary, Mr. Ibukun Adekeye, NUT directed the teachers to recommence the strike on January 15.
The primary school teachers initiated an indefinite strike on September 11, 2023, citing the non-implementation of the 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance and the non-payment of 25 months minimum wage arrears, among other concerns.
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The NUT had temporarily suspended the strike on October 2, 2023, for six weeks, allowing time for issue resolution following the intervention of FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who established a committee to investigate and recommend solutions.
Expressing dismay that six weeks have passed since November 2023 with no positive developments, the teachers noted that despite the committee submitting its report, they still face a dire situation and the burden of a high cost of living.
Concerned about the ongoing challenges, the SWSC directed all primary school teachers in FCT to resume the suspended strike from Monday, January 15, until further notice, advising parents to keep their children at home.
The NUT cautioned that if the demands of the primary school teachers were not met by January 19, 2024, all secondary school teachers in the FCT would join the strike from January 22.
