Primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory have suspended their indefinite strike after 20 days.
This followed an agreement between the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the FCT Administration to pay the remaining 60 per cent of the 25 months’ arrears owed to the teachers.
Chairman of the FCT chapter of the NUT, Abdullahi Kafas, made this known on Monday.
The teachers resumed their strike on September 18 to protest the non-payment of 60 per cent of arrears owed by the area councils at the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued by the FCT Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).
On September 25, 2024, the FCT Minister threatened to use ten per cent of Internally Generated Revenue meant for the Area Councils to pay the striking primary school teachers in the FCT.
He stated that he had invited the Area Council Chairmen and the NUT to discuss the issue, noting that he would not tolerate the strike action by the teachers.
However, the Chairman of the FCT-NUT chapter, Abdullahi Kafas, informed The PUNCH that the union had suspended the strike, adding that Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike had directed the Director of Treasury to make the payments to the teachers with immediate effect.
“Yes, the strike has been suspended. He (Wike) has agreed to pay the remaining 60 per cent of the 25 months’ arrears and the rest will be paid gradually. The minister himself agreed, and he has directed the director of treasury to make the payments and it is with immediate effect,” he said.
