PUBLIC primary and secondary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, operating under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on Thursday embarked on a five-day warning strike over outstanding entitlements owed them by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the six area councils of the FCT since 2016.
The five-day warning strike commenced Thursday, November 18 and would last till Wednesday, November 24, 2021.
According to the State Publicity Secretary of FCT NUT, in a telephone interview with National Record Friday, if there was no positive response by the end of the warning strike, the SWEC will meet to review the warning strike and set in motion the mechanism to mobilise for a full scale strike.
In a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting held on Wednesday, 17th November, 2021 at FCT Teachers’ House, Gwagwalada, Abuja, the FCT NUT said the union decided to embark on the warning strike to draw the attention of the FCTA and the areas councils after several ultimatums issued to them have failed to produce positive results.
The communiqué, signed by Comrade Stephen A. Knabayi, State Chairman, Comrade (Mrs) Margaret F. Jethro, Acting State Secretary, and Comrade Samson Haruna, State Publicity Secretary, noted that the SWEC deliberated on the ultimatum given to area councils’ chairmen demanding payment of outstanding entitlements of the Local Education Authority (LEA) teachers in FCT and the ultimatum to the management of the FCTA to pay 2016, 2017 and 2018 promotion arrears to the secondary school teachers in FCT.
The communiqué noted that in the deliberation, members of SWEC expressed dismay on the non-commitment of the management of the FCTA to fulfil its promise to pay 2017 and 2018 promotion arrears to secondary school teachers in FCT and non-commitment, and the lack of political will of the Area Councils’ Chairmen to settle outstanding entitlements of LEA teachers in FCT.
According to the communiqué, the outstanding entitlements of LEA teachers in the FCT include 2019 and 2020 promotion in some LEAs; the promotion arrears from 2014 to 2018; 2020 and 2021 annual increments; and upgrading of qualified teachers.
Other outstanding benefits include the payment of twenty-four months new national minimum wage arrears to LEA teachers and payment of 2016, 2017, 2018 promotion arrears and adjustment of 2019 and 2020 promotion letters to enable concerned teachers to enjoy their promotion arrears.
“Having deliberated exhaustively on the issues at stake, the SWEC-in-session was saddened at the non-commitment of the Area Councils Chairmen and the management of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to the settlements of FCT teachers’ outstanding entitlements and therefore resolved to embark on a five-day warning strike with effect from Thursday, 18th November to Wednesday 24th November, 2021.
“Failure of the FCTA and the six Area Councils to settle the outstanding entitlements of FCT teachers within the five days period of the warning strike, will leave the Union with no other option than to declare an indefinite strike action to press home her demands.
“The Union hereby directs all primary and secondary school teachers in FCT to comply by proceeding on Five days warning strike by staying away from their duty posts and await further directive from the Union,” the communiqué stated.
