Chairmen of the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory have appealed to public primary school teachers to end their ongoing strike, assuring that they have begun paying the new N70,000 minimum wage. The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja, led by the Secretary of the FCT chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria and Chairman of Bwari Local Government, John Gabaya.
Teachers under the Nigeria Union of Teachers have been on strike over the councils’ failure to implement the wage increase and address unpaid benefits. The industrial action, which began with walkouts in December 2024, resumed in full in March 2025, affecting public primary education across the capital.
Gabaya, accompanied by ALGON Chairman and Kwali Council Chairman Danladi Chiya, confirmed that all six councils started paying the minimum wage last week in line with the federal government’s template. He appealed to the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees to call off the strike and resume negotiations to resolve remaining issues, including arrears.
Gabaya emphasized that the main goal is to bring children back to school and reiterated that funds had already been disbursed. Chiya added that the welfare of the children must take priority and maintained that council chairmen remain open to further dialogue with the unions. Both officials expressed concern that students’ education continues to suffer the longer the strike persists.
