By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
After three long months of silence in classrooms across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), primary school teachers under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) have officially suspended their strike—bringing a sigh of relief to thousands of pupils and parents.
The strike, which began in March 2025, had grounded academic activities in Local Education Authority (LEA) primary schools across Abuja’s six area councils. At the heart of the standoff was the non-payment of the approved N70,000 new minimum wage and the backlog of salary arrears owed to the teachers.
For many families, especially in working-class communities like Gwagwalada, Bwari and Kwali, the strike meant more than missed classes—it was a disruption of their children’s future and daily routine.
“My daughter kept asking when school would resume,” said Mrs. Halima Musa, a mother of three in Kuje. “It wasn’t easy explaining to her that her teachers hadn’t been paid in months.”
The breakthrough came after a decisive intervention by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who convened a meeting with NUT executives, the six area council chairmen, and other key stakeholders. Following the meeting, Wike ordered the release of 10 percent of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from the councils—amounting to N16 billion—to fund the June wage bill and settle 60 percent of the teachers’ nine-month arrears.
In a communique jointly signed by the FCT NUT Chairman Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Shafas, Secretary Comrade Margaret Jethro, and Publicity Secretary Comrade Ibukun Adekeye, the union confirmed the suspension of the strike from Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
“Having deliberated on the offers, including the minister’s assurance that FCTA would take over the teachers’ emoluments, and following the release of N16 billion into the teachers’ accounts, we hereby suspend the strike,” the union declared.
The communique also acknowledged the constitution of a special committee by the FCT Minister to harmonize and resolve the remaining arrears within two weeks. The committee is expected to map out permanent solutions to prevent a repeat of the crisis.
Already, five months’ arrears and the new minimum wage for June have been paid into teachers’ accounts, a move the union described as a “confidence-restoring gesture.”
The NUT extended gratitude to its members for their steadfastness throughout the industrial action, and also thanked the National NUT Headquarters, the FCT Council of the NLC, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and other individuals who stood by them during the standoff.
As schools prepare to reopen, hope is returning to classrooms across the territory. But the teachers have made it clear: if the promises are not kept, they may be forced to resume the strike.
For now, though, the chalkboards are coming back to life, and Abuja’s youngest learners can return to the one place where dreams begin school.