The FCT Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), along with the National Union of Local Government Employees of Nigeria (NULGE) in the FCT commenced an indefinite strike on Thursday.
NUT-FCT State Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Moh’d Shafa, and the President of the NULGE FCT Chapter, Comrade Ibrahim Abullaihi Kabi, said the strike followed the failure to implement the new national minimum wage of N70,000 agreed in December 2024 with the chairmen of the area councils.
They stated that while the new wage has been implemented for all workers in the FCT, local government employees and primary school teachers have been excluded.
“The council chairmen’s failure to uphold their commitments has left the unions with no option but to resume industrial action,” they said.
In addition to the minimum wage issue, the unions are also demanding the resolution of other outstanding benefits, which include a 40 percent Peculiar Allowance, salary increases of 25 percent and 35 percent, and a N35,000 Wage Award.
“We have been patient and have given the council chairmen enough time to fulfil their promises, but unfortunately, they have failed us. We are left with no choice but to resume our strike action to demand our rights,” they stated.
The strike action is expected to affect
Primary schools and local government services have been affected by the strike in the FCT.
The unions urged their members to remain united and committed to the cause, stating that a people united can never be defeated.
When LEADERSHIP visited some schools in the Bwari area council, teachers were seen dismissing their pupils to go home, saying schools were on strike.
A teacher in one of the primary schools, Mrs Ene Igado, lamented that LEA teachers were treated unfairly by the council chairmen, claiming that while they do most of the work in the councils, they are not being treated with the respect they deserve.
“Look at UBEB teachers; the government treats them with care because the FCTA does not joke with them. All their rights have been granted to them by the FCT administration, but the LEA teachers, who do most of the work, have been neglected by the government.
“Imagine a graduate whose take-home salary is not up to N50,000 because of the non-implementation of the minimum wage and other allowances. The minister should help us correct this anomaly because both UBEB and LEA teachers should enjoy the benefits of the profession equally,” she said.
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