JUST IN: FCT teachers suspend strike

The state wing executive council (SWEC) of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has suspended the ongoing strike by primary and secondary school teachers.

Speaking at a news conference in Gwagwalada, Abdullahi Shafa, SWEC chairman, said the decision followed an emergency meeting convened to review the intervention of Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, in the dispute declared on April 20.

He said the minister approved a N5 billion monthly commitment to address teachers’ outstanding needs.

“The minister approved the release of N2 billion monthly from FCT internally generated revenue (IGR), plus N3 billion from the 10 percent IGR accruing to the area councils, to implement the 40 percent peculiar allowance and settle outstanding entitlements of primary school teachers,” he said.

Last week, teachers across primary and secondary schools in the FCT stayed away from classrooms to begin an indefinite strike over unmet demands.

On promotion matters, Shafa said the minister had pledged to engage the chairman of the FCT civil service commission to remove the vacancy precondition for teacher promotions and review the 2024 promotion exercise.

Following the resolution reached with stakeholders, the council directed all FCT primary and secondary school teachers to resume duties on Monday, April 27.

Shafa added that no teacher should be victimised for participating in the strike, noting that the council would review its position if the FCT administration fails to honour the agreement.

He also commended teachers for their solidarity and reaffirmed SWEC’s commitment to improved working conditions in the FCT.