The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Local Education Authority teachers’ forum has called on authorities to address the persistent bureaucratic delays in the payment of their arrears, stressing that the situation has caused hardship and low morale among educators.

The call was made known through an open letter to Abdullahi Shafas, the FCT NUT chairman, and his team, signed by Isaac Ityav, made available to Press.

The teachers applauded the NUT leadership for their efforts in securing partial payments of the national minimum wage (NMW) arrears, but frowned at the pace and scope of progress made.

“Your efforts in securing partial payments of the national minimum wage (NMW) arrears are acknowledged; however, the pace and scope of progress raise serious questions.

“If it has taken this long to achieve only partial resolution of the NMW arrears, how much longer must teachers wait for the full implementation of the 40 percent peculiar allowance and its arrears, arguably the most substantial entitlement yet to be addressed?

What of the N35,000 wage award and the 25/35 percent salary increment allowances,” the statement queried.

The primary school teachers expressed concerns that the figures represent the dignity, motivation, and survival of the very educators who shape the future of Nigerian children and the nation.

“Teachers deserve clarity, not silence. If there are allowances they are not entitled to, the union must communicate this transparently.

“If they are entitled, then the delay in securing them must be explained and actively challenged,” the teachers noted.

Ityav, in the letter, urges the FCT NUT leadership to rise beyond procedural delays and bureaucratic bottlenecks.

“Let your advocacy be bold, consistent, and visible. Let teachers see in you not just representatives, but relentless champions of their cause. There is still much to conquer. And the time to act is now,” he emphasised.

Recall, media reported that after more than three months of halted academic activities, teachers in FCT, Abuja, returned to the classroom upon the implementation of the new minimum wage and payment of five months’ arrears to the striking teachers’ accounts on Tuesday, July 8.

Media survey shows that some teachers under the Local Education Authorities (LEAs) in some Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have begun to receive their June salaries, reflecting N70,000, the new national minimum wage.

Abdulsalam Haruna, the coordinator of the FCT LEA Teachers’ Forum, affirmed this report when he revealed that teachers in Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, and Gwagwalada have so far received their June salaries with the new wage rate reflected.

The teachers had embarked on a strike on March 24, protesting the council chairmen’s failure to implement the national minimum wage policy.

Other issues included non-implementation and payment of a 25 percent and 35 percent salary increase, and non-implementation and payment of a 40 percent peculiar allowance.

The union was also demanding the payment of the N35,000 wage award and the implementation of the template on outstanding entitlements of teachers as agreed in 2022.