The Nigeria Union of Teachers’ Federal Capital Territory Wing has issued a directive to primary school teachers to resume their postponed strike on Monday, January 15, 2024, until further notice.
This was stated in a press release issued on January 12, 2024, which came after the State Wing Standing Committee’s emergency meeting.
The statement was co-signed by the FCT Chairman of the NUT, Abdullahi Shafas; the State Secretary, Mrs Margaret Jethro; and the Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.
In addition, if primary school teachers’ demands are not satisfied by January 19, 2024, secondary school teachers are encouraged by the SWSC to join the strike on January 22.
Recall that on September 11, 2023, the union went on an indefinite strike in protest of a number of issues, including the introduction of a 40% Peculiar Allowance and the payment of arrears for 25 months of the minimum wage.
The NUT said that “nothing positive has taken place” during the six-week strike suspension that ended on November 7, 2023, and that the SWSC was forced to order the workers to resume after the Minister and the Area Council Chairmen refused to meet their demands.
According to the communique:
“Saddened by the suffering of the teachers and the unwillingness of the area council chairmen to pay the teachers these aforementioned entitlements, including the delay in the Honourable Minister’s intervention, the State Wing Standing Committee in – Session has no other option but to direct all Primary School Teachers in FCT to resume the suspended Strike to further press home her demands. The strike will take effect from Monday, 15th January, 2024.
“The SWSC-in-Session equally resolved that if the outstanding demands of the primary school teachers were not paid before Friday, January 19, 2024, all secondary school teachers in FCT would join in solidarity from Monday, January 22, 2024 – an injury to one is an injury to all.”
The union subsequently urged parents to keep their children in primary schools at home, from Monday January 15, 2024.
cc: Punch Ng
