By Abdul Lauya
Primary school teachers under the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) have officially suspended their over three-month-long industrial action following the intervention of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
This development was made public through a communiqué dated July 4, 2025, and made available to Eye Reporters on Tuesday, July 8, confirming that teachers are to resume academic duties from Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
The suspension marks a significant turn in the drawn-out standoff which began on March 24, 2025, over unpaid salary arrears and the failure to implement the national minimum wage for primary school teachers under the area councils.
As Eye Reporters previously reported in a recent piece, Minister Wike had come under sharp criticism for what many described as “grandstanding” over the FCT’s primary education crisis, despite the sector’s mounting challenges. However, last Thursday’s stakeholders’ meeting and subsequent funding directive appear to have offered a lifeline for teachers and pupils alike.
In a bold move, the Minister approved the use of 10 per cent of internally generated revenue from the Area Councils to offset the salaries and arrears of affected teachers. This decision culminated in the release of N16 billion, which the union confirmed had been disbursed to teachers’ accounts by Tuesday.
According to the communiqué signed by NUT Chairman Abdullahi Shafas, State Secretary Margaret Jethro, and Publicity Secretary Ibukun Adekeye, the union acknowledged Wike’s “positive disposition” and described the fund release as a “workable pathway” that warranted the temporary suspension of the strike.
“Consequent upon the implementation of the New Minimum Wage and payment of five months arrears into the Teachers’ accounts today, 8th July 2025; the SWEC hereby suspends the ongoing strike action and appeals to all primary school teachers in FCT to, with effect from Wednesday, 9th July 2025, return to the classrooms,” the statement read in part.
The union, however, noted that it will intensify efforts to secure the settlement of all remaining entitlements, signaling that while classes resume, the struggle for complete justice is far from over.
