LIFESTYLE Culture

NUT Calls Off Strike, FCT Schools Resume Monday

by admin on | 2026-04-29 10:27:37

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NUT Calls Off Strike, FCT Schools Resume Monday

By Abdullahi Muhammad, Abuja

The industrial deadlock that grounded public education in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been broken, as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Wing, officially called off its strike on Sunday after securing a landmark financial agreement with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to settle years of unpaid entitlements.

The decision was formalized during an emergency State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting at the Teachers’ House in Gwagwalada, ending a six-day walkout that began on April 20, 2026.

The N5 Billion Roadmap

The breakthrough came after Minister Wike approved a strategic funding template designed to liquidate arrears identified by the 2025 Ministerial Committee. To ensure a steady flow of payments, the Minister committed to a N5 billion monthly allocation, structured as follows: N2 billion sourced directly from FCT Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and N3 billion pulled from the 10% IGR statutory remittance belonging to the Area Councils.

This massive monthly injection is earmarked for the immediate rollout of the 40% Peculiar Allowance and the systematic clearance of other outstanding debts owed to primary school teachers.

Beyond the financial settlement, the NUT successfully negotiated the removal of the controversial “Vacancy” hurdle for promotions. Educators had previously slammed the FCT Civil Service Commission’s 2024 exercise, claiming the vacancy requirement unfairly stagnated the careers of qualified teachers.

Wike reportedly admitted he was unaware of this specific policy bottleneck but has now pledged to meet with the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission to review the 2024 exercise and ensure eligible teachers are promoted without undue restrictions.

In a communiqué signed by State Chairman Comrade Abdullahi M. Shafa, Secretary Comrade Margaret F. Jethro, and Publicity Secretary Com. Ibukun Adekeye, the union directed all primary and secondary school teachers to resume work on Monday, April 27, 2026.

However, the suspension comes with a clear warning: “If, by omission or commission, the FCTA fails to abide by the agreement, the Union will have no option but to review its position.”

The agreement also includes a “no-victimization” clause, ensuring no teacher faces disciplinary action for participating in the strike.

As thousands of students across the six Area Councils prepare to return to their desks, the NUT has called on its members to redouble their efforts.

The union emphasized that while the struggle for better conditions continues, teachers must now focus on recovering lost ground and elevating the standard of education in the nation’s capital.