Minimum Wage: FCT primary school teachers begin strike amidst ongoing exams
Story by Victor Itodo ABUH
With just three days left to conclude the first-term examinations, primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have started an industrial action over the failure of area councils to implement the N70,000 minimum wage.
This latest strike is part of a series of industrial actions that have disrupted the academic calendar for FCT primary school pupils. Earlier this term, teachers went on strike starting September 18, just two weeks after resumption. That strike lasted until October 7, leaving pupils out of school for about three weeks.
On Monday, pupils who reported to school to continue their first-term examinations were sent home as teachers enforced the strike.
Speaking on the development, Comrade Ameh Baba, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the FCT Kubwa chapter, explained the reasons for the strike.
“And now the ultimatum of the December 1st deadline given by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for any state to comply with the minimum wage of N70,000 has come to effect. Hence, we don’t have any option, but to comply,” he said.
Read also: Disparities among states towards implementation of new minimum wage
Baba noted that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had approved the new minimum wage, with the November salary slated for the first payment.
However, he pointed out that Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) teachers in the FCT had not yet received the increment.
He further stated that the teachers are owed a backlog of allowances, including a N40,000 peculiar allowance and an N35,000 wage award, which have remained unpaid for a year. Baba emphasised that the current strike would persist until these issues are addressed.
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