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Friday, July 4, 2025

FCT Meets With NUT, NANS, Area Council Chairmen

By Emmanuella Oghenetega

Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has yesterday met with leaders of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and the Chairmen of the six Area Councils in the FCT, to resolve the protracted primary school teachers strike.

The meeting, which also had the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Chidi Amadi, FCTA Head of Civil Service, and the Permanent Secretary, FCTA Treasury, Alhaji Adamu Wanki, in attendance, was called at the instance of the Minister and held behind closed doors.

Addressing the media after the closed-door session, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Amadi, confirmed that far-reaching decisions were taken during the meeting and expressed confidence that the prolonged strike will be largely resolved soon.

According to him, “The Minister of the FCT today summoned a very special meeting to address the lingering issue that has impacted negatively on academic exercise within the FCT Area Councils. At the end of the meeting, I’m happy to announce that after exhaustive deliberation, the matter has been put to rest”.

Key resolutions from the meeting, according to the Chief of Staff, included, the Immediate Payment of Arrears of primary school teachers’ salary.

He said “approximately 70% of the owed salaries and arrears to teachers will be paid by channeling the accrued revenue of the Area Councils for the past six months.”

Amadi stated that a special committee has been constituted to address the remaining outstanding issues and ensure a comprehensive resolution.

The committee, he said, comprises three members from the NUT, two from the FCTA, one Area Council Chairman, and a representative from NANS. The committee is expected to submit its report within two weeks.

Amadi added that the FCT Minister has also taken responsibility to address the outstanding salary payment of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), ensuring that the Area Councils can return to full functionality.

The President of NANS, Olushola Ladoja, corroborated the agreement, stating, “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 Minister then 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 added.

He commended the Minister’s intervention, despite concerns about interference with the autonomy of the Area Councils.

Chairman of Abaji Area Council, Abubakar Umar Abdullahi, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, said the decision to withdraw 10% of the Area Councils’ internally generated revenue (IGR) for the next six months to settle these payments, though “painful”, was accepted in good faith by the Area Council Chairmen in the interest of peace and the education of the children.

He expressed optimism for a swift return to normalcy. “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.

The FCT NUT Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Shafa, stated the need to consult with the internal structure of the union, including the State Trustees, the Standing Committee, and the State Wing Executive Council, before taking a final decision on calling off the strike.

All chairmen of the six Area Councils were in attendance.

FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike making a remark during the meeting with the leadership of NUT, NANS and Area Council Chairmen at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja

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