With just three days left to complete their first-term examinations, primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday shut down academic activities, turning away pupils in protest over unpaid wages.
The teachers, under the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), are striking in response to the failure of the Nyesom Wike-led FCT administration to implement the new ₦70,000 minimum wage, despite prior commitments.
This marks the second strike this term, following an earlier one that began on September 18, just two weeks into the academic session, and lasted nearly three weeks before being called off on October 7. The latest disruption began as pupils resumed to complete their exams, only to be sent home.
The strike is part of a broader labor action initiated by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), which declared an indefinite strike on December 1, 2024. The NLC directed all workers in the FCT, including those in the six area councils, to stop work due to the non-implementation of the agreed minimum wage.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Comrade Stephen Knabayi, NLC Chairman for the FCT, criticized the area council chairmen for failing to honor the wage agreement, despite being issued a communique during the NLC’s National Executive Council meeting in November.
Comrade Ameh Baba, Chairman of the NUT Kubwa chapter, confirmed that the strike was triggered by the non-payment of wage arrears owed to teachers. He stated that while Minister Wike had approved the new minimum wage with payments expected in November, teachers under the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) were yet to see any adjustments.
Additionally, Baba highlighted unresolved arrears, including a ₦40,000 peculiar allowance and a ₦35,000 wage award, which have been outstanding for over a year. He stressed that the strike would persist until the demands of teachers are fully met.
The controversy surrounding the new minimum wage implementation has fueled widespread discontent among workers nationwide. While some states promised to begin implementation by December 1, others have made little progress, further intensifying labor unrest.
