Teachers in Nigeria’s Capital Territory Launch Indefinite Strike
Primary and secondary school teachers in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory resumed an indefinite strike today across all public schools. While public and private schools were expected to reopen for the third term, the Nigeria Union of Teachers called on parents to keep their children at home. The strike is reported to be a continuation of the dispute that has persisted since 2022 between the union and the six Area Council chairmen over salary arrears, welfare benefits, and unpaid entitlements.
The 30,000-naira minimum wage arrears, approved in 2019 but never fully implemented, lie at the heart of the crisis. The union claims that these arrears have accumulated over 25 months and that the authorities have failed to keep their promises over the years. Since previous temporary agreements and government interventions failed to resolve the issue permanently, the union first issued an ultimatum to the authorities in March and then decided to resume the strike in April, citing the lack of any concrete action.
The resumption of the strike has caused serious concern among parents and education stakeholders. There are growing fears that students, especially those approaching examination periods, will face yet another disruption to their education. While some parents describe it as shameful that schools in the capital city of Abuja have been repeatedly shut down over similar issues for years, education experts argue that teachers’ welfare should not be left to the discretion of local authorities. The Parents-Teachers Association also called on officials to act urgently and meet the teachers’ demands to protect the future of students.