Public primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have taken to the streets to protest the non-implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage by the six Area Council chairmen. Despite President Bola Tinubu signing the national minimum wage into law on May 29, 2024, primary school teachers in FCT have yet to benefit from the new wage.
The Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers FCT, Abdullahi Shafa, led the peaceful protest at the Federal Capital Territory Secretariat's gate. Shafa stated that the struggle for implementation began in December 2024, with the union and workers resuming strike action a month ago.
According to Shafa, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had approved and released N4.1 billion to pay the minimum wage, but the six area council chairmen have refused to implement the new wage. The chairmen have also failed to implement other entitlements, including a N30,000 wage award, salary adjustments, and pension deductions.
Shafa expressed frustration, saying that despite numerous strikes and interventions, the council chairmen remain unmoved and insensitive to the plight of primary school teachers and workers. The unions have demanded that the area council chairmen implement the minimum wage and other entitlements, but to no avail.
The Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chiya, did not respond to calls and text messages on the matter. Shafa emphasized that the minister's intervention and release of funds should have resolved the issue, but the area council chairmen have allegedly misappropriated the funds, claiming they are meant for projects and ecological funds.
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