Wike takes steps to resolve FCT teachers’ strike, approves revenue deduction to meet demands

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stepped in to resolve the ongoing teachers’ strike by holding discussions with key parties, including the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and the chairmen of the six FCT area councils.

The meeting, held at the minister’s official residence in Abuja, was aimed at addressing the strike which commenced on 24 March 2025.

The teachers are requesting the complete enforcement of a three-party agreement signed on 11 December 2024, which includes a ₦70,000 minimum wage, salary arrears ranging from 25% to 35%, a 40% peculiar allowance, a ₦35,000 wage award from the Federal Government, and several years of outstanding promotion entitlements.

After a private session, the Chairman of Abaji Area Council, Abubakar Abdullahi, who spoke on behalf of the council chairmen, disclosed that Wike had authorised a deduction of 10% from the councils’ internally generated revenue (IGR) for six months in order to meet the teachers’ requests.

While calling the decision “painful,” Abdullahi mentioned that the chairmen had accepted it in good faith to help bring the strike to a close and restore regular academic activities in schools throughout the FCT.

“We just finished a meeting with the minister, the leadership of the NUT, and the Area Council Chairmen. Resolutions were passed, although they did not favour the Chairman, as our six months’ IGR has been entirely committed to settling this issue.

“Our plea to the NUT is to consider our children and call off the strike. The minister clearly stated that, legally, he has no right to withhold 10% of the Area Councils’ IGR to pay NUT debts. But by God’s grace, the Chairman agreed, in the interest of peace and education, to release that amount.

“We hope that before the close of work today, the union will call off the strike, and by tomorrow, our children will return to school,” he said.

Also commenting, the President of NANS, Olushola Ladoja, explained that the teachers had asked for 70% of the owed salaries and arrears, which all parties accepted.

He further stated that a committee had been formed to handle the outstanding issues and to provide a report within two weeks.

“During the meeting, the NUT proposed receiving 70% of the owed sum. Based on calculations of the IGR, it was confirmed that this amount could be covered. The hon. the minister has directed that the council chairmen’s IGR be used for this purpose and pleaded with the teachers to call off the strike.

“He also constituted a committee, which includes NANS, to look into other unresolved demands within two weeks,” Ladoja said.

He praised the minister’s effort, in spite of the legal limitations surrounding the use of council-generated funds.

In his remarks, the FCT NUT Chairman, Abdullahi Shafas, said the union would hold a State Wing Executive Council meeting to make a final decision based on the outcomes of the discussions.