FCT Primary School Teachers Protest. Photo Credit: Daily Trust
By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
A Non Governmental Organization, Save Public Education Campaign, Nigeria (SPEC), has strongly condemned the continued neglect of public primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a situation which has resulted in an avoidable strike action by Teachers.
A statement signed by the Convener of SPEC, Comrade Vivian Bello, on Tuesday, called on the Federal Government to intervene decisively to end the ongoing strike action and ensure that students return to school without further delay.
“We demand the immediate implementation of all the agreements reached with the teachers and reject any move to privatise public education in Nigeria”.
“It is now over 90 days since primary school teachers across the FCT embarked on an indefinite strike, and yet, there is no concrete sign of action from the government or area council officials to meet their legitimate demands”, the statement read.
SPEC while condemning the Area Council Chairmen’s act for continuously violating the agreement to pay teachers their new minimum wage and settle outstanding allowances described the act as irresponsible and inhumane attitude from elected public officials who seem indifferent to the suffering of teachers and the disruption of learning for thousands of pupils.
Recall that the industrial action by teachers was triggered by the failure of the six Area Councils to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage agreement which was formalised in a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 11th December 2024, signed by the FCT Administration, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Other key provisions in the MoU included: Settlement of at least five months’ salary arrears in instalments, Allocation of 50% of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) deducted at source from Area Councils to fund these payments and Establishment of a tripartite implementation committee chaired by the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud.
SPEC, however, said till date and disappointingly, not a single term of the agreement has been honoured, despite repeated assurances by the minister of the FCT, Barr. Nyesom Wike, at high-level meetings. “This shows a disturbing level of disregard for public education and for the welfare of the teaching workforce”.
“The continued silence and inaction of Minister Wike and the six Area Council Chairmen is appalling. Many of them, beneficiaries of public education themselves, have now turned their backs on the very system that nurtured them. It is unjust and shameful to watch teachers suffer while students roam the streets due to school closures. These are the same Children we will turn round tomorrow to call “Bandits”, it added.
The NGO also frowned at the recent decision by the FCT Minister to spend ₦39 billion on renovating the International Conference Centre—now renamed after the President—while education workers remain unpaid and students are out of school.
“This misallocation of public funds speaks volumes about the misplaced priorities of our leaders”.
“We reject the now familiar lame rhetorics often rehearsed by the Area Council Chairmen that they lack the financial capacity to meet the teachers’ demands. These are blatant falsehoods. The truth is that many of them have shifted focus to upcoming elections, abandoning their constitutional responsibility to workers and the public”.
It however demanded for an immediate implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage, full payment of all salary arrears and entitlements and accountability from public officials who continue to flout agreements with impunity.
The Save Public Education Campaign (SPEC), while applauding the unwavering commitment of the striking teachers who have endured months of hardship to defend their rights, says it fully supports their cause and commend their courage in the face of such neglect.
It also reaffirmed its full support for the upcoming three-day mass protest, and called on the FCT leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to stand in full solidarity with the striking workers.
“We also call on the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to mobilise the teachers to action and also the Parents and Teachers Association across the FCT to start mobilising for mass protest until the government meets the demands of striking teachers and the schools are reopened”.
Since the strike resumed on March 24, 2025, education across more than 400 public primary schools in the six area councils of the FCT has been crippled. Many students are now forced to stay at home, while others are left unattended in poorly maintained classrooms—if they can access schools at all.
