The striking primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have asserted they would not resume work until the promised salary payment hits their accounts.
The teachers resolved to continue with the ongoing industrial action on Friday, July 4, after meeting with the union leaders over the promise by the FCT minister and the area council chairmen to settle the outstanding allowances, arrears and salaries.
Adbulsalam Haruna, a forum coordinator, informed BusinessDay that will not return to the classroom until the payment is made; though Nyesom Wike, the minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the council chairmen reached an agreement with the union leaders on Thursday, on a bailout plan aimed at addressing key grievances, including unpaid entitlements and improved working conditions.
Haruna emphasized that though the teachers are willing and ready to return to work, this can only be effected by the prompt payment as agreed by the parties concerned.
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The meeting of the union leaders and council chairmen on Thursda, was seen as a signal of a potential end to the over three months strike by the primary school teachers as a result of the failure of the council chairmen to settle their entitlements and salary which has disrupted academic activities for almost a full academic session.
As a result of the strike, most of the primary schools in Abuja have been turned into grazing fields for cattle herdsmen.
Wike had on Thursday held a meeting with the Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) leaders along with FCT Area Council chairmen regarding the ongoing strike.
The bailout plans were adopted by the minister and council chairmen to end the impasse on the basis, “FCT Administration (FCTA) will cover 60 per cent of the outstanding salary arrears for primary school teachers and other staff.
“The six area councils will be responsible for the remaining 40 percent, and since the councils failed to pay their share, Wike withholds the council chairmen’s internally generated revenue for May and June.”
These withheld funds will now be used to settle the 40 per cent council portion of salary arrears.
As a result of the progress made in the engagement, the union leaders resolved to suspend their planned mass protest but pledged to closely monitor the implementation of the bailout plan.
Hence, the leaders maintained that while the strike action was paused, unions and the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) issued a 21-day ultimatum for all demands, including salaries, wage awards, and removal of some officials, to be met; failing which, further actions will follow.
Read also: FCT teachers strike: VDM holds free class at FCTA gate for stranded pupils
In addition, they emphasised that the funds should be released by the week’s end, covering both FCTA’s 60 per cent and councils’ 40 per cent.
The NUT, NULGE, NANS, and JUAC remain on alert and will enforce the 21-day ultimatum if no complete resolution.
In the face of the new development, public primary schools and health facilities are expected to resume normal operations once salaries are paid.
Recall that the teachers had embarked on the strike in March or the non-implementation of the other minimum wage.
Other issues included non-implementation and payment of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increase, and non-implementation and payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance.
The union were also demanding the payment of the N35,000 wage award and the implementation of the template on outstanding entitlements of teachers as agreed in 2022.
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