Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has announced the suspension of its three-week strike.
This decision follows the intervention of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who played a pivotal role in addressing the teachers' grievances.
The strike, which began on September 18, was primarily driven by unresolved welfare issues, including peculiar allowance, minimum wage arrears, and the non-implementation of an upward salary review. The union's decision to suspend the strike was communicated through a communiqué signed by Abdullahi Shafa, Mrs. Margaret Jetro, and Ibukun Adekeye, the chairman, secretary, and publicity secretary, respectively.
The communiqué was issued after an emergency meeting of the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) in Abuja.
Minister Wike's intervention included the payment of 40% of the 25-month arrears from the 2019 minimum wage, with a commitment to settle the remaining 60%.
The union commended the minister for directing the FCT Treasury to utilize 10% of the internally generated revenue accruals to the area councils for these payments.
This directive was necessary due to the failure of the councils' chairmen to fulfill their previous agreements regarding the arrears.
The NUT expressed appreciation for the minister's consistent and positive intervention, stating, "Given the foregoing and the appeal of the minister for the suspension of the strike action, the SWEC in session considered the consistent and positive intervention of the minister." Consequently, the union resolved to suspend the ongoing strike, urging all primary school teachers in the FCT to resume their duties on October 8, 2024.
Looking ahead, the NUT remains committed to ensuring the full settlement of all outstanding entitlements and improving teachers' welfare.
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