Abuja Primary school teachers begin indefinite strike over unpaid arrears

Teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have announced an indefinite strike across the six area councils.

The teachers embarked on the industrial action which will commence today, September 11, over non-payment of 25 months arrears.

According to a Daily Trust report, the teachers are also protesting the non-implementation of a 40 per cent peculiar allowance.

The union gave the directive in a communique issued at the end of its emergency State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting held at Teachers’ House in Gwagwalada.

The communique was jointly signed by the NUT state chairman, Comrade Stephen Knabayi, and secretary, Margaret F. Jethro.

The communique added that the council chairpersons had also failed to pay other outstanding allowances, which they said included non-implementation of promotion arrears, non-upgrading of concerned teachers, non-implementation of annual increments, non-implementation of promotion letters released for teachers, among others.

“The SWEC in-session resolved to direct all primary school teachers to embark on an infinite strike action from Monday, September 11, 2023,” the communique read in part.

The union vowed not to call off the strike until its demands are met while calling on parents across the FCT to remain guided by keeping their wards and children safe at home.

FCT minister Nyesom Wike is expected to wade into the issue to ensure children in the Nigerian capital’s public primary schools return to their classrooms in earnest.