Primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory may soon return to classrooms after Minister Nyesom Wike intervened in their ongoing strike.
The teachers, under the Nigeria Union of Teachers, began the strike in March to protest unpaid minimum wage, salary increases, and other entitlements. After three months of schools being shut, a closed-door meeting was held in Abuja on Tuesday, where several leaders came together to resolve the crisis.
Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Chidi Amadi, said the meeting involved area council chairmen, NUT leaders, officials of the FCT Administration, the National Assembly, and the National Association of Nigerian Students.
Amadi said, “The minister convened this meeting after several efforts to solve the problem. After long discussions, we agreed to use part of the councils’ money to pay the teachers.”
He explained that the government will withhold the last six months of 10 percent Internally Generated Revenue from the councils. The money will be used to pay about 70 percent of the teachers’ minimum wage arrears.
He added, “Though it won’t clear everything, it is a big step forward in ending the strike.”
Amadi also said a new committee will be formed to work on other pending issues. The committee will have members from NUT, the FCT Administration, council chairmen, and NANS. They are expected to submit a full report in two weeks.
Speaking for the council chairmen, Abubakar Abdullahi admitted the decision was not in their favour but said it was necessary for the sake of students.
“Six months of our IGR has been given up. We appeal to NUT to consider our children and call off the strike,” he said.
He noted that even though Wike has no legal power to force the council funds to be used this way, the chairmen all agreed to it because they also want the strike to end.
National President of NANS, Olushola Oladoja, praised the step and said the sacrifice was a sign that all sides want peace. “Any chairman could have taken the minister to court, but they agreed to support the plan,” he said.
NUT Chairman Mohammed Shafa confirmed the meeting’s outcome and said the decision to call off the strike now rests with the NUT State Executive Council.
The teachers are demanding full payment of minimum wage, 25 to 35 percent salary increases, a 40 percent peculiar allowance, the N35,000 wage award, and the implementation of an agreement reached in 2022.
