The National Assembly has intervened in the ongoing strike by public primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), aimed at addressing grievances over unpaid entitlements and the non-implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.
The teachers, under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), began the industrial action in December 2024 with two boycotts, which resurfaced in February and have persisted since March, disrupting academic activities across FCT public primary schools.
Last Thursday, the situation escalated as teachers and other local government workers staged a protest in Abuja, blocking the entrance to the FCT Minister’s office, Nyesom Wike, at Area 11. In response, Wike revealed that over N4 billion had been released for the payment of the new minimum wage and outstanding entitlements. He accused area council chairmen of mismanaging the funds and summoned them for an emergency meeting.
In an exclusive interview on Wednesday, the FCT Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Stephen Knabayi, confirmed that leaders of the teachers’ union met with the leadership of the National Assembly on Tuesday. “The meeting will continue next week. The council chairmen have been asked to submit their allocation and expenditure records between Tuesday and Friday,” Knabayi said.
He added that the Permanent Secretary of the FCTA Treasury Department was also summoned to clarify financial discrepancies. “The Treasury says N4.1 billion was released, but the council chairmen claim they haven’t received the funds. The money was specifically meant to resolve the workers' issues,” he stated.
A committee has been set up to verify the conflicting claims and determine the appropriate course of action.
When asked if the strike would be suspended due to the Assembly’s involvement, Knabayi expressed doubt. “To us, all these moves seem like delay tactics. We’re not convinced. Our strike continues. By tomorrow, we’ll decide whether to return to the streets on Monday or Tuesday. We’re not waiting,” he declared.
