FCT NUT Strikes a Pause: Six-Week Suspension After Wike's Intervention
Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Suspends Strike Following FCT Minister's Intervention
okpe chinenye 
The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Wing, has decided to suspend its ongoing strike for a period of six weeks, in light of the intervention by Mr. Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister.
Mr. Stephen Knabayi, the Chairman of the union, confirmed the suspension of the strike in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
The strike, which commenced on September 11, had been initiated by the NUT in FCT due to several grievances, including the non-payment of 40 per cent peculiar and other outstanding allowances. The teachers were also concerned about the non-payment of 25 months of arrears for the 2019 approved national minimum wage, non-release of some promotion letters, non-implementation of released promotion letters, and a range of other issues.
Knabayi revealed that the strike suspension, effective from October 2 to November 13, was a result of agreements reached between the striking teachers and the Chairmen of the six Area Councils following the intervention of the FCT Minister. A 6-man committee was also established to find a lasting solution to the issues at hand.
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"We reconsidered our stand and suspended the strike following the intervention of the FCT Minister. We proceeded on strike over seven issues. Five of them, we have an agreement for their implementation with effect from October," said Knabayi.
He further explained, "The other two issues – peculiar allowances and payment of minimum wage arrears -, the minister has agreed to intervene with an agreement for their implementation in four weeks. So, we suspended the strike for six weeks to enable the minister to take action and see to the implementation of the commitments."
Knabayi expressed his gratitude for the timely intervention by Minister Nyesom Wike, emphasizing that the situation had seemed hopeless before the minister's involvement.
He acknowledged the role of a communication gap in exacerbating the issues between the union and the council chairmen, stating that teachers are patient and understanding people but needed clarity on when they would receive their entitlements.
With the strike temporarily suspended, teachers in FCT now look forward to the implementation of the agreements reached during this period of respite.
