- Amid N5bn deal with Wike
Public schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will resume operations on Monday, April 27, after the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) FCT wing suspended its six-day strike following an agreement with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The industrial action, which began on April 20 over unpaid entitlements and promotion hurdles, ended during an emergency State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting at Teachers’ House in Gwagwalada on Sunday, April 26.
In a communiqué signed by State Chairman Comrade Abdullahi M. Shafa, Secretary Comrade Margaret F. Jethro, and Publicity Secretary Com. Ibukun Adekeye, the union hailed Wike’s intervention and directed all primary and secondary school teachers to return to classrooms.
Central to the deal is a N5 billion monthly funding roadmap to clear arrears flagged by the 2025 Ministerial Committee. This includes N2 billion from FCT Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and N3 billion from the 10% IGR remittance to Area Councils, targeting immediate rollout of the 40% Peculiar Allowance and other debts owed to primary school teachers.
The agreement also addresses long-standing grievances over the FCT Civil Service Commission’s “vacancy” precondition for promotions, which teachers said stalled qualified educators’ careers in the 2024 exercise. Wike, who said he was unaware of the policy snag, pledged to meet the commission chairman for a review and unhindered promotions.
The suspension carries a stern caveat: “If, by omission or commission, the FCT Administration fails to abide by the agreement, the Union will have no option but to review its position.” A “no-victimization” clause protects strikers from reprisals.
NUT praised members’ solidarity and urged them to refocus on elevating education standards in the capital, as thousands of students across the six area councils gear up for resumption.