…passes vote of no confidence, as schools resume on Monday
Primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed growing disappointment with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Abuja branch, citing its perceived ineffectiveness in addressing longstanding issues, particularly the non-payment of outstanding salary arrears.
Abdulsalam Haruna, the coordinator of FCT Local Education Authority (LEA) teachers’ forum, made this known in a letter to the leadership of the union, sighted by BusinessDay, in which the teachers expressed their deep disappointment.
“We are deeply disappointed with the performance of the FCT NUT in 2025. Only one out of about 10 items on the agenda was accomplished, indicating a lack of progress in addressing issues affecting primary school teachers.
“We are disturbed by the inaction of the FCT NUT, who seem to be failing in their role to advocate for primary school teachers’ rights and education in FCT and Nigeria,” the statement reads in part.
The primary school teachers who resumed work on Monday also expressed their vote of no confidence in the NUT for their ineffectiveness, which they say has led to stagnation of academic activities and the general well-being of teachers.
According to the letter, “The following entitlements remain unpaid to primary school teachers in FCT; new minimum wage arrears payment: Abaji, Gwagwalada, and Kuje owe one month each.”
Read also: FCT teachers demand end to delay in arrears payment
Besides, six local area councils are still having pending entitlements such as 40 per cent peculiar allowance, implementation and arrears, 25 and 35 per cent salary increase, implementation and arrears, N35,000 wage award, implementation and arrears.
Moreover, there are years of unpaid promotion arrears, which include 2023 promotion implementation pending, annual increments since 2023 pending, and underemployed teachers in Kuje and Bwari from 2018 to date.
The teachers call on NUT leadership in FCT to effect positive changes as a matter of urgency.
“Enough is enough, we can’t continue this way! NUT rise up and act,” the statement read.
Recall BusinessDay reported last year that the FCT-LEA teachers’ forum called on authorities to address the persistent bureaucratic delays in the payment of their arrears, stressing that the situation has caused hardship and low morale among educators.
The teachers applauded the NUT leadership for their efforts in securing partial payments of the national minimum wage (NMW) arrears, but frowned at the pace and scope of progress made.
“Your efforts in securing partial payments of the national minimum wage (NMW) arrears are acknowledged; however, the pace and scope of progress raise serious questions.
“If it has taken this long to achieve only partial resolution of the NMW arrears, how much longer must teachers wait for the full implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and its arrears, arguably the most substantial entitlement yet to be addressed?
What of the N35,000 wage award and the 25/35 per cent salary increment allowances,” the statement queried.
