Teachers in primary schools in the Federal Capital Territory have advised parents and guardians to keep their children at home from next Monday as they will be resuming the strike they called off last year over failure of the authorities to meet their demands.
The teachers decided to resume the strike at the end of an emergency meeting of the FCT Wing Standing Committee (SWSC) of National Union Teachers, NUT held in Abuja on Friday.
NUT had directed the teachers to resume the strike on January 15 in a communique issued after the meeting signed by SWC Chairman, Mr Abdullahi Shafas, Ms Margaret Jethro, and Secretary, Mr Ibukun Adekeye.
The primary school teachers had embarked on an indefinite strike on Sept. 11, 2023, over non-implementation of 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance and payment of 25 months minimum wage arrears, among other issues.
The NUT suspended the strike on Oct. 2, 2023, for six weeks to allow for the resolution of the issues, following the intervention of FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.
Wike had set up a six-man committee to investigate the issues and recommend solutions.
The teachers, however, expressed worry that the six weeks had elapsed since Nov. 2023, with nothing positive achieved, even though the committee had submitted its report.
“We are concerned that a 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.
“Saddened by the suffering of the teachers and 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,” the NUT added.
The union warned that all secondary school teachers in the FCT would join the strike from Jan. 22, if the demands of the primary school teachers were not met before Jan. 19, 2024.
(NAN)
