The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken decisive steps to resolve the ongoing teachers’ strike in Abuja by ordering the direct payment of allowances and other outstanding entitlements to affected educators.
The directive comes amid mounting concern over the prolonged closure of public primary schools across the Federal Capital Territory, which has disrupted academic activities and left thousands of pupils out of classrooms.
Wike announced the move following a closed-door meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Abuja. The meeting, according to officials, was convened to find an immediate resolution to the lingering dispute between teachers and authorities over unpaid salaries, allowances, and other welfare-related issues.
During the engagement, the minister expressed dissatisfaction with how the crisis had been handled prior to his intervention. He pointed to procedural lapses, particularly the failure to involve key stakeholders such as area council chairmen in earlier negotiations.
“Unfortunately, there have been some lapses as the council chairmen were not invited. It would not be proper to hold such a crucial meeting without those directly affected,” Wike said.
He explained that he had previously chaired several meetings on the matter and had also established a committee to examine the grievances raised by teachers. According to him, the latest directive to facilitate direct payment of entitlements is intended to break the deadlock and restore normal academic activities in schools.
In a significant development, Wike disclosed that he had intercepted Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) allocations meant for the six area councils within the FCT. He stated that the funds would now be redirected to ensure immediate payment of teachers’ salaries and allowances, thereby addressing the backlog of outstanding obligations.
“I was surprised to learn that despite our agreement, there are plans to go on strike. Such action undermines ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis,” he said.
The minister noted that while the responsibility for paying primary school teachers’ salaries and allowances legally rests with the area councils, the FCT Administration decided to intervene to prevent further disruption to the education system.
“Primary school teachers’ salaries and allowances remain the statutory responsibility of the area councils, but the FCT Administration stepped in to prevent disruption in the education system,” he added.
Wike reiterated the importance of education to national development, warning that persistent strike actions could have long-term negative consequences for students and the broader society.
“I have repeatedly emphasised that education is vital, and continuous strikes will only negatively affect our children,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NUT FCT Wing, Abdullahi Shafa, described the meeting with the minister as productive, acknowledging efforts by the current administration to improve infrastructure in public schools across the territory.
However, Shafa maintained that several critical welfare issues affecting teachers remain unresolved. He highlighted concerns over unpaid entitlements, delayed promotions, and the failure to fill vacant teaching positions in schools, all of which he said continue to affect morale within the profession.
According to him, prolonged stagnation in career progression could diminish teachers’ motivation and reduce productivity in classrooms. He also revealed that the minister admitted he had not been fully briefed on the depth of the crisis prior to the meeting.
Despite the apparent progress made during the discussions, the union has yet to suspend the strike. Shafa indicated that the leadership of the union would convene to evaluate the outcome of the engagement with the FCT Administration before making a final decision on whether to call off the industrial action.
The strike, which began last week, has led to the shutdown of many public primary and secondary schools in the FCT, leaving students and parents in uncertainty. The NUT had earlier accused relevant authorities of failing to adequately respond to its demands, prompting the industrial action.
Among the key issues raised by the union are the non-implementation of the approved 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increments for teachers, as well as the failure to pay a 40 per cent peculiar allowance owed to them. The union also cited delays in promotions and generally poor welfare conditions as major concerns.
Education stakeholders have expressed concern over the continued disruption, noting that prolonged strikes could negatively affect learning outcomes and widen existing gaps in the education system. Parents, in particular, have called for urgent intervention to ensure that children return to classrooms as soon as possible.
Observers say Wike’s directive to ensure direct payment of teachers’ entitlements represents a bold attempt to address the crisis, especially given the complexities surrounding the financial responsibilities of area councils. However, they note that the success of the intervention will depend on swift implementation and sustained engagement with all parties involved.
As discussions continue, attention is now focused on the next steps to be taken by the NUT leadership and whether the latest measures will be sufficient to resolve the dispute. For now, thousands of pupils remain out of school, with hopes that the ongoing efforts will soon restore stability to the FCT’s education sector.
