Wike blames council chairs as primary school teachers resume strike in Abuja

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has blamed chairmen of the six area councils for the ongoing strike by primary school teachers in their domains. 

The affected areas are Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abuja Municipal (AMAC).

Last year, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Abuja chapter, directed its members in the area councils to embark on a strike from September 11, 2023, over non-payment of 25 months’ salary arrears. 

Other contending issues were the non-implementation of a 40 percent peculiar allowance and promotion arrears, non-upgrading of concerned teachers, non-implementation of annual increments and non-implementation of promotion letters released for teachers.

On October 2, NUT suspended the strike for six weeks to allow for the resolution of the issues, following the intervention of the minister.

Few days into the new year, the union resumed the strike, citing “non-implementation” of the resolutions.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday after a meeting with the chairmen and heads of security agencies, Wike said the local council officials have not lived up to their responsibilities.

“Recently the NUT has embarked on strike; it is not because of our fault, it is the councils’ chairmen’s fault because primary schools are under the purview of the area councils,” he said.

“Again, it will look as if the ministers are doing nothing, but that is not our responsibility.

“Council chairmen should know that they must wake up to their responsibilities.”