Abuja teachers begin 4th strike in as many months, second term exam disrupted
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Public primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja have embarked on the fourth strike in four months, again over the non-payment of N70,000 national minimum wage.
The teachers boycotted classes twice in December 2024 and once in February this year on the same issue, to press for payment by the Chairmen of the six FCT Area Councils.
The latest strike, which began on Monday, has disrupted the second term examination in most schools across the six councils.
Some Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary Schools were shut down with a few teachers on the ground turning back pupils who came for the examination.
At Pilot Science Primary School in Abaji, some pupils played football on the premises, others were on the street returning home.
Teachers huddled under a mango tree discussing the council Chairmen’s refusal to pay the new minimum wage.
One of the teachers, Muazu Ibrahim, told Daily Trust that it is unfortunate that the six Area Council Chairmen refuse to implement the new wage despite agreement reached with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).
He said it is regrettable that the strike has disrupted the second term examination, urging the councils to keep to their promise to pay the new wage in the interest of the pupils.
Also on Monday, classrooms at Central Primary School in Kwali were under lock and key with only a few pupils loitering around, while teachers discussed the strike.
Barnabas Ayuba, a teacher in the school, reiterated that the continuous neglect of teachers by the council Chairmen negatively affects them.
“Last week, I read in the news that some of the teachers have engaged in commercial driving in order to sustain their family.
“Like me, I had used my motorcycle to do okada (motorcycle taxi) after work to raise some money and buy foodstuffs for my family,” he disclosed.
LEA Primary School in Tukpechi was closed without pupils in sight.
One of the teachers, Moses Abraham, said they decided to stay off their classes following the directive by the NUT over the non-implementation of the national minimum wage.
The situation was similar at Demonstration LEA Primary School, Gwagwalada as classrooms were closed with a few pupils playing in the compound and some teachers while away the time in group discussions of the strike.
Head Teacher Ibrahim Yusuf expressed concern over the non-payment of the minimum wage.
In his view, “There is need for the council Chairmen to see these children as their own just like we also see them like our children. It is not our wish to disrupt their second term examination with the strike.”
The NUT at the end of its emergency State Wing Standing Committee (SWSC) meeting on Saturday directed all primary school teachers across the FCT to resume their suspended strike over the failure of the council Chairmen to deliver on their promise to pay the minimum wage.
Parents lament incessant strikes destroying education
Some parents expressed concern over the incessant strikes in the FCT which they said cripple the desire of pupils for education.
Muhammad Ali, a resident of Dakwa, said strikes in the last two years have negatively affected pupils, accusing teachers of showing no concern to consequences.
A mother of two pupils in an LEA Primary School in Kubwa, Rita Moses, criticised the timing of the announcement of the strike late on Sunday, instead of on a Friday to give room for intervention before Monday.
“My children who are billed to finish their second term examination by Thursday had already left for school in the early morning for their exam when the information about the strike got to us. This is unfair,” she said.
“It is negatively affecting the moral of the children toward their exams.’’
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