FCT teachers threaten strike over unpaid salary arrears

Secondary and primary school teachers in the federal capital territory (FCT) have threatened to embark on indefinite strike if their demands are not met by November 25.

According to NAN, Stephen Knabayi, FCT chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), issued the threat at the end of an emergency meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The teachers had earlier commenced a five-day warning strike on November 18 over the non-payment of their promotion salary arrears, lack of teachers’ upgrade, insecurity, among others.

Knabayi said that their demands are in two folds, adding that teachers under the FCT administration and those under the area councils are affected.

Nabayi also said that although the union earlier received the commitment from Bello Mohammed, the FCT minister, it continued with the warning strike due to a lack of response from chairmen of the FCT area councils.

“The strike is ongoing. It is a five-day warning strike, which is expected to come to an end on November 24. We are dealing with two tiers of government in this matter, the state and area councils,” he said.

“As I speak with you now, we have no issues any longer with FCTA, because of the commitment we have received from the minister of FCT.

“However, we do not have any commitment from the area councils as we speak. That is why the strike is still ongoing.”

The NUT chairman urged the area council chairmen to take advantage of the window for the warning strike to dialogue with the union.

“We are hoping that tomorrow they will still take advantage of the available window to dialogue with us with the aim of resolving it. If not, we are expected to meet tomorrow at our level to take the strike to the next level,” he added.