N’Assembly Intervenes in FCT Teachers’ Strike

The National Assembly has stepped into the lingering industrial action by public primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory.

The teachers, under the Nigeria Union of Teachers, have been on strike over the non-implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage and other outstanding entitlements by chairmen of the area councils.

The industrial action, which began in December 2024 with two separate boycotts, resurfaced in February and has been ongoing since March, causing widespread disruption in public primary schools across the FCT.

Boldscholar News reported last thursday, teachers and other local government workers staged a protest in Abuja, blocking the entrance to the office of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, at Area 11.

Reacting to the situation, Wike confirmed the release of over N4 billion meant for the payment of the new minimum wage and other entitlements.

He criticised the area council chairmen for failing to disburse the funds appropriately and subsequently summoned them for an emergency meeting.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, the FCT Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Stephen Knabayi, stated that leaders of the teachers’ union met with the leadership of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

“We were at the National Assembly yesterday. The meeting will continue next week. The council chairmen were asked to submit records of their allocations and expenses. They were asked to do that between yesterday (Tuesday) and Friday.

“They really want to understand why they are saying they don’t have enough funds for them to know how they can possibly intervene,” he said.

He further disclosed that the Permanent Secretary of the FCTA Treasury Department has also been invited as part of the investigation.

“The Treasury says N4.1 billion was released, while the council chairmen claim they haven’t received the funds. The money was for the purpose of solving the issue of workers.

“A committee has been set up to verify these claims and determine the next line of action,” he added.

When asked if the strike would be suspended following the National Assembly’s intervention, the union leader responded with skepticism.

“For us, all these things—they’re just buying time. We don’t believe them. Our action continues. By tomorrow, we will decide whether we’ll hit the streets again on Monday or Tuesday. We are not waiting for anyone,” he said.