-
…Secondary sch. teachers to join Jan. 22
By Stanley Onyekwere
There is an uneasy calm over the directive of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to primary school teachers in the territory to resume strike today.
NUT had on Friday issued the directive in a communique at the end of an emergency meeting of the State Wing Standing Committee (SWSC), in Abuja.
In the communique signed by State Chairman, Mr. Abdullahi Shafas, State Secretary, Ms Margaret Jethro, and State Publicity Secretary, Mr. lbukun Adekeye, the union said the directive followed the expiration of a six-week window period to allow for the resolution of the issues that necessitated the strike action.
Recall that the aggrieved teachers had on September 11, 2023 embarked on indefinite strike over non implementation of 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance and payment of 25 months minimum wage arrears, among other issues.
However, following the intervention of the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, the union suspended the strike on October 2, 2023 for six weeks, to enable a six-man committee set up by the Minister to look into the issues and proffer solutions.
The NUT said: “We are concerned that series of meetings have taken place, but the primary school teachers remain in a pathetic situation and continue to bear the brunt of the high cost of living.
“The nonpayment of the aforementioned entitlements, the SWSC has no other option than to direct all primary school teachers in FCT to resume the suspended strike.
“The union, hereby, directs all FCT primary school teachers to resume the suspended strike action with effect from Monday, Jan. 15, till further notice.
“Parents are advised to keep their children and wards in primary schools safe at home” Furthermore, the union warned that if the demands of the primary school teachers were not met, all secondary school teachers in the FCT would join the strike action from Jan. 22.
