On Thursday, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike held a high-level meeting with education stakeholders, including leaders of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and the chairmen of the six Area Councils, to address the prolonged teachers’ strike which began on March 24, 2025.
The dialogue, which took place at the minister’s official residence in Abuja, aimed at resolving grievances linked to an agreement reached on December 11, 2024.
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Among the unresolved demands are: implementation of a ₦70,000 minimum wage for teachers, settlement of 25%–35% salary arrears, payment of a 40% peculiar allowance, the ₦35,000 wage award from the Federal Government, and outstanding promotion arrears.
Following the meeting, Abaji Area Council Chairman, Abubakar Abdullahi, said the minister had decided to allocate 10% of the councils’ internally generated revenue (IGR) over a six-month period to settle the teachers’ entitlements.
He acknowledged that while the decision was difficult for the chairmen, they agreed to it for the sake of restoring education in the territory.
“We just finished a meeting with the minister, the leadership of the NUT, and the Area Council Chairmen. Resolutions were passed, although they did not favour the Chairman, as our six months’ IGR has been entirely committed to settling this issue.
“Our plea to the NUT is to consider our children and call off the strike. The minister clearly stated that, legally, he has no right to withhold 10% of the Area Councils’ IGR to pay NUT debts. But by God’s grace, the Chairman agreed, in the interest of peace and education, to release that amount.
“We hope that before the close of work today, the union will call off the strike, and by tomorrow, our children will return to school,” he said.
NANS President, Olushola Ladoja, confirmed that the teachers requested 70% of the owed amount, which the meeting participants agreed could be covered through the redirected IGR funds.
“During the meeting, the NUT proposed receiving 70% of the owed sum. Based on calculations of the IGR, it was confirmed that this amount could be covered. The Hon. Minister has directed that the council chairmen’s IGR be used for this purpose and pleaded with the teachers to call off the strike.
“He also constituted a committee, which includes NANS, to look into other unresolved demands within two weeks,” Ladoja said.
He commended the minister’s efforts, noting that Wike had stepped in despite not having the legal mandate to control the Area Councils’ revenue.
FCT NUT Chairman, Abdullahi Shafas, noted that the union would hold an executive council meeting to deliberate on the outcome and make a final decision.
, Nyesom Wike held a high-level meeting with education stakeholders, including leaders of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and the chairmen of the six Area Councils, to address the prolonged teachers’ strike which began on March 24, 2025.){kind=link}