Primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the umbrella of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) have suspended their strike action.
THE WHISTLER reported the teachers had embarked on strike, September 18, 2024, about seven months after the intervention of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike following their strike in January.
Wike had intervened after the teachers embarked on a strike to press home their demands for the implementation of 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance and payment of 25 months minimum wage arrears, amongst other arrears.
However, the teachers had resumed the strike after the Area Council Chairmen failed to meet their demands, despite a 14-day ultimatum issued by the Union.
Speaking to newsmen on the suspension on Monday, Chairman of FCT NUT, Comrade Abdullahi Shafas, said the decision followed the renewed commitment of the FCT minister towards paying the remaining balance of the 60 percent of the 25 months minimum wage arrears of its members.
Shafas who spoke at the end of an emergency meeting or the Union’s State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) in Gwagwalada, disclosed that the minister had during the meeting with the leadership of the union directed the FCT Treasury Department to immediately use the FCT area council chairmen’s ten per cent IGR accruals to pay the teachers.
He added that the council had considered the consistent and positive intervention of the minister’s commitment to look into other demands of the teachers to suspend the strike.
The union, however, appealed to the minister to take necessary steps in ensuring the implementation of its members’ 40 per cent peculiar allowance, N35, 000 wage award and 25 per cent and 35 per cent upward salary review with immediate effect after the minimum wage arrears are settled.
He appealed to the teachers to return to the classroom, assuring that talks are ongoing to resolve the pending issues.
“To this end, the SWEC in session hereby appealed to all primary school teachers in FCT to with immediate effect from Tuesday, October 8, 2024 return to their classrooms and continue with their legitimate duties as the union will continue to intensify efforts in ensuring the settlement of all the outstanding entitlements and the improvement of their welfare,” Shafas said.
FCT Primary School Teachers Suspend Strike is first published on The Whistler Newspaper