Abuja Primary School Teachers Suspend Strike After Government Meeting Their Demands

Strategic Insights -

Primary school teachers in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, have suspended their over three-month strike following the government's meeting of their demands. The union's leadership directed the teachers to return to the classrooms on Wednesday, despite their initial indefinite strike on March 24 over unpaid minimum wage and other welfare concerns. The intervention of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, helped to resolve the issues, with the government agreeing to release N16 billion to augment the payment of the minimum wage and to constitute a Special Committee to harmonize outstanding arrears.

Key Takeaways:

  • The strike, which started on March 24, was called off after the government met the union's demand for payment of the minimum wage and other welfare concerns.
  • The union's leadership directed the teachers to return to the classrooms on Wednesday, following a communique jointly signed by the Chairman, Abdullahi Shafas, Secretary, Margaret Jethro, and Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.
  • The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, held several meetings with the union of striking teachers and with chairpersons of the Area Councils to resolve the crisis.
  • The government agreed to release 10% of the area councils' six months accrued Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), amounting to N16 billion, to augment the payment of the minimum wage.
  • A Special Committee will be constituted to harmonize all outstanding arrears within two weeks.

Statistics:

  • 16 billion Nigerian Naira will be released to augment the payment of the minimum wage for June and 60% of the nine months arrears.
  • The strike lasted for over three months, from March 24 to July 8.
  • The Special Committee will have two weeks to harmonize all outstanding arrears in the FCT.

Sources:

  • Comunique from the NUT Abuja Chapter, jointly signed by Abdullahi Shafas, Margaret Jethro, and Ibukun Adekeye.
  • The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
  • Premium Times report