… as June salaries paid at N70k, while arrears still pending
After more than three months of halted academic activities, teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, are finally returning to the classroom.
While the strike may have ended, the challenges facing these educators are far from over. From bridging significant learning gaps to rebuilding pupils’ morale and addressing infrastructural setbacks, the teachers now face the daunting task of restoring normalcy to a disrupted academic calendar.
Similarly, the pupils are faced with a new set of challenges; from catching up on lost time to preparing for delayed examinations and adjusting to renewed academic pressure, the road ahead is anything but easy.
Read also: FCT teachers strike: War against systematic impunity
For many students, the focus now shifts from frustration to resilience as they work to regain momentum in their education. Besides, the health of these teachers and pupils is at risk, as the school compounds have turned into grazing fields, and dust overtaken the classrooms.
It is no longer news that upon the implementation of the new minimum wage and payment of five months arrears to the striking teachers’ accounts on Tuesday, July 8, the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) have announced the suspension of the over three months strike.
According to the directive from the SWEC, all concerned teachers are to return to the classroom on Wednesday, July 9, while the union intensifies efforts to ensure the settlement of the remaining entitlements.
BusinessDay survey shows that some teachers under the Local Education Authorities (LEAs) in some Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have begun to receive their June salaries, reflecting N70,000, the new national minimum wage.
Abdulsalam Haruna, the coordinator of the FCT LEA Teachers’ Forum, affirmed this report when he revealed that teachers in Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari and Gwagwalada have so far received their June salaries with the new wage rate reflected.
However, Haruna pointed out that while Abaji Area Council teachers received four months’ arrears, the LEA teachers in the council have only been paid the June salary at the N70,000 rate without any arrears.
“LEA teachers in Abaji, AMAC, Bwari and Gwagwalada have now started receiving their June salaries with the N70,000 new minimum wage.
“But, in Abaji, while other categories of staff have been paid four months’ arrears, LEA teachers have not received any arrears,” he said.
Read also: Strike continues: FCT teachers demand immediate payment
Nyesom Wike, the minister of FCT, was forced to intervene in the more than three-month impasse, which unfortunately kept the primary school children out of school, even as the teachers insisted the strike would continue until they were paid despite the minister’s promises.
The commencement of salary payments, though partial, is seen by some stakeholders as a possible step towards resolving the prolonged industrial dispute.
However, the task before the teachers and children could have been averted if those saddled with authority were mindful of the place of education in human capacity development.
As it stands, the pupils have the first, second and third term examinations to sit before the academic session is over in July. Obviously, most of the infrastructure is dilapidated, and the school compounds overgrown with grass.
It took Wike to meet with the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, and National Association of Nigerian Students’ leaders for the impasse to be resolved.
The bailout plans were adopted by the minister and council chairmen to end the impasse on the basis, “FCT Administration (FCTA) will cover 60 per cent of the outstanding salary arrears for primary school teachers and other staff.
“The six area councils will be responsible for the remaining 40 percent, and since the councils failed to pay their share, Wike withholds the council chairmen’s internally generated revenue for May and June.”
These withheld funds will now be used to settle the 40 per cent council portion of salary arrears.
Read also: FCT teachers strike: VDM holds free class at FCTA gate for stranded pupils
In the face of the new development, public primary schools and health facilities are expected to resume normal operations as salaries are being paid.
Recall that the teachers had embarked on the strike on March 24 for the failure of the council chairmen to implement the national minimum wage policy.
Other issues included non-implementation and payment of 25 per cent and 35 percent salary increase, and non-implementation and payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance.
The union were also demanding the payment of the N35,000 wage award and the implementation of the template on outstanding entitlements of teachers as agreed in 2022.
