On January 15, 2024, primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory have threatened to resume their postponed strike.
In a statement released on Friday, the Nigeria Union of Teachers’ Federal Capital Territory Wing, together with its state chairman Abdullahi Shafas, secretary Margaret Jethro, and publicity secretary Ibukun Adekeye, issued the directive to its members.
The communiqué states that the decision was taken during the State Wing Standing Committee’s emergency meeting in Abuja.
Remember that on September 11, 2023, primary school teachers went on an indefinite strike over a number of problems, including the failure to implement a 40% peculiar allowance and a 25-month minimum wage arrears.
But on October 2, 2023, the FCT minister intervened and established a six-person committee to discuss the issues, allowing the strike to be suspended for six weeks in order to allow for their settlement.
However, the six weeks deadline elapsed November, 2023, with nothing positive achieved, even though the committee had submitted its report.
The communiqué noted, “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. Saddened by the suffering of the teachers and the non-payment of the aforementioned entitlements, the SWSC has no other option than to direct primary school teachers in the FCT to resume the suspended strike. The union, hereby, directs all FCT primary school teachers to resume the suspended strike action with effect from Monday January 15 till further notice. Parents are advised to keep their children and wards in primary schools safe at home.’’
It further claimed that if the demands of the primary school teachers were not met by January 19, 2024, then all secondary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory will join the strike on January 22.