Parents Urge Intervention as FCT Primary Schools Remain Closed Amid Ongoing Teachers' Strike
Parents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are expressing concern over the closure of public primary schools due to a strike by Local Education Authority (LEA) teachers.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
Parents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are growing increasingly concerned as public primary schools remain closed due to a strike by the Local Education Authority (LEA) teachers. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) had ordered the shutdown of all primary schools across the six area councils after a 14-day ultimatum to the area council chairmen expired without a response to the teachers' demands.
The striking teachers are insisting on the payment of the remaining 60% of their 25-month minimum wage arrears and other benefits. This strike has left many pupils at home, leading to significant setbacks for both students and parents.
Mrs. Zainab Ibrahim, a concerned parent with four children in primary school, expressed her frustration. “Since the strike began, my children have been playing around with nothing to do. I tried to engage a home teacher, but they don’t stay at home and are often out playing football. The situation is even worse because their father works outside Abuja,” she said. She urgently called on the FCT administration to intervene and resolve the conflict between the teachers and council chairmen so that classes can resume.
Usman Kabiru, another parent, echoed her sentiments, blaming the council chairmen for not meeting the teachers' demands. He warned that keeping pupils at home could lead to negative consequences, including potential involvement in street hawking or other disruptive behaviors.
Our reporter observed that all government-owned primary schools were closed, with classrooms locked. Schools in Gwagwalada, Kwali, Kuje, Kubwa, and Abaji remained shut, impacting many families in the area.
A teacher, Mr. Israel Abednego, stated that teachers would not return to work until all entitlements and arrears were paid by the area council chairmen. He noted, “I expected the council chairmen to acknowledge the FCT minister Nyemso Wike's intervention in paying 40% of the arrears owed. They had agreed to this in his presence but failed to fulfill their promise.”
The ongoing strike highlights the urgent need for dialogue and resolution between the Local Education Authority and the council chairmen to ensure that pupils can return to their classrooms.
