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Cabinet officials

Abuja's Primary Education System on Brink of Collapse

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The prolonged primary school teachers' strike in Abuja has left over 90,000 public school children out of school for more than three months, with parents becoming increasingly frustrated and disillusioned with the government's lack of action. With the FCT administration prioritizing large-scale infrastructure projects over education, low-income earners are struggling to afford private schools for their children, highlighting the systemic challenges in Nigeria's education sector. BusinessDay reports on the plight of parents and children affected by the ongoing strike.

Key Takeaways:

  • The strike has been ongoing for over 90 days, affecting over 90,000 public school children in Abuja.
  • Parents are appealing to Minister Nyesom Wike to prioritize their children's education over large-scale infrastructure projects.
  • The core dispute centers on the non-payment of the ?70,000 minimum wage agreement signed in a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on December 11, 2024.
  • The FCT primary school teachers' union has also demanded unpaid 25% and 35% salary increments, as well as a 40% peculiar allowance.
  • The strike marks the fourth industrial action, following suspensions in November 2023 and January 2024, with a similar strike in September 2024 protesting area council chairmen's failure to implement minimum wage arrears and other entitlements.
  • BusinessDay spoke to 11-year-old Muhammad Aliyu, who described how a typical Monday morning in Abuja now involves rolling tires down the street with friends instead of going to class.
  • The government has failed to address the systemic challenges in Nigeria's education sector, with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) commissioning ?39 billion renovation of the International Conference Centre and multi-billion naira road infrastructure projects.
  • Asebe Isa, a Primary 6 pupil at Piyakassa Primary School, expressed her frustration over the ongoing strike that led to the closure of her school, noting that many pupils have forgotten what they were taught and missed their scheduled examinations.
  • Yunusa Idris, a Primary 5 pupil at Lugbe Primary School, conveyed his unhappiness about the situation, urging the government to end the strike so public school pupils can return to their classrooms.
  • The FCT Administration has proposed a bailout plan in which the FCTA would pay 60% of the outstanding arrears, while the area councils cover the remaining 40%.
  • The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has suspended its planned protest and is closely monitoring the implementation of all resolutions reached.

Statistics:

  • 90,000 public school children have been affected by the strike.
  • The strike has lasted for over 90 days.
  • The FCT primary school teachers' union is demanding ?70,000 minimum wage agreement.
  • The teachers are also demanding unpaid 25% and 35% salary increments, as well as a 40% peculiar allowance.
  • The FCT Administration has allocated ?140 billion to education in the 2025 FCT budget.
  • The government has commissioned ?39 billion renovation of the International Conference Centre.
  • The FCT Administration has withheld the area councils' Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for May and June to clear outstanding arrears owed to teachers.

Sources:

  • BusinessDay
  • Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT)
  • National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)
  • Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Wike
  • FCT Administration

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