By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
What was expected to be a major breakthrough in resolving the lingering strike by primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ended without a resolution, as the teachers have vowed not to return to classrooms until they receive direct payment alerts for their owed salaries and entitlements.
The teachers, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT chapter, made their position clear after a crucial State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting held in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Friday.
“Our members are ready to go back to their classes the moment they begin to receive their alerts. Even if the payment starts tonight, we’ll call off the strike,” declared Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Shafas, NUT FCT Chairman, while speaking to journalists after the meeting.
Despite a Thursday mediation effort led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja which brought together all six FCT area council chairmen, lawmakers, union leaders, and representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) the strike remains in force.
The teachers have been on strike since March 2025, protesting the non-implementation of the N70,000 new minimum wage, the backlog of salary arrears, and other benefits. According to the union, multiple signed agreements with the area councils were dishonoured, deepening the mistrust between both parties.
While commending Minister Wike for his decisive action in withholding 10 percent of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from the six area councils to settle at least 70 percent of the teachers’ entitlements, Shafas noted that the union would only respond to actual disbursement not promises.
“We appreciate the minister’s intervention. He has shown concern by setting up a committee to address the remaining issues, but until we see real payments into the LEA accounts, our strike continues,” he emphasized.
The strike has disrupted academic activities in public primary schools across Abuja, leaving thousands of pupils out of school and placing pressure on parents and communities.
Meanwhile, students and advocacy groups have called for urgent action to avoid further damage to early education in the capital. A NANS representative at the meeting appealed to both the councils and the federal government to act swiftly.
With the new school term approaching, all eyes are now on the area councils to fulfill their financial obligations or risk prolonging the shutdown of public primary education in the nation’s capital.