As schools prepare to open a new session nationwide, the FCT Wing of the Nigeria Union Teachers (NUT) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the six area council chairmen in the territory to pay the remaining 60 percent of the 25 months’ national minimum wage arrears of primary school teachers or they will embark on strike action.
The union, in a communique signed by the state Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Tashas, and Comrade Margaret F. Jethro (secretary), expressed concerns over the failure of the chairmen to pay the 60 percent despite the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, fulfilling his part in paying 40 per cent of the arrears.
They are also dismayed over the non-implementation/payment of the teachers’ 40 percent peculiar allowance, as well as the non-implementation/payment of the 25 per cent and the 35 per cent salary increases for the teachers.
They further demanded the determination of the fate of the teachers as regards the implementation of the N70,000 new minimum wage that was signed into law by the federal government.
The communique reads in part: “The SWEC-In Session also noted concern the disparity in salaries of primary school teachers in the FCT and other workers in the FCT which is due to non-implementation of items 1 to 3 above despite the clarification by the office of the National Incomes, Salaries And Wages Commission (NISWC) on the eligibility of the FCT primary school teachers to enjoy same.
“It is on this premise that the SWEC has resolved to issue a 14-day ultimatum from Monday, September 2, 2024, to Sunday, September 15, 2024, to the six area council chairmen to settle the aforementioned entitlements of the primary school teachers while failure to respond positively to the above-stated demands within the stipulated time, the union will have no other option than to resume the suspended strike action.
Micheal has over 5 years experience in digital journalism. He’s a New Media Expert with an interest in Human Development and Global Politics.
