Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The ongoing strike by primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory entered a critical phase on Thursday as the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, held an emergency closed-door meeting with leaders of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Abuja, raising hopes of a near resolution. After the meeting, the Chairman of the NUT, FCT chapter, Comrade Abdullahi Shafa, publicly commended the minister for what he described as genuine and timely interventions in the education sector, a rare gesture of optimism after weeks of deadlock and rising tension. Shafa spoke to reporters outside the minister’s office, noting that the union appreciates the minister’s efforts toward resolving the issues affecting teachers and expressing hope that the engagement would lead to a positive outcome. “We have had a very productive engagement. The minister has shown a clear commitment to addressing our grievances. We are optimistic that this dialogue will bring an end to the strike very soon,” Shafa told journalists.
The strike, which began on April 14, 2026, has paralyzed academic activities in all public primary schools across the six area councils of the FCT, leaving hundreds of thousands of pupils at home and parents scrambling for alternative care. The teachers are demanding the implementation of a new salary structure, payment of outstanding arrears, improved welfare packages, and the release of promotion letters that have been delayed for over two years. The union had issued a 14-day ultimatum before embarking on the industrial action, accusing the FCT Administration of reneging on previous agreements. The strike had defied several attempts at negotiation, with the union insisting that only a direct intervention by the minister could break the logjam. Thursday’s meeting was therefore seen as a last-ditch effort to prevent a complete collapse of the FCT’s primary education system.
According to sources close to the negotiation, the meeting, which started at about 11:00 a.m. and lasted for over three hours, was held in a cordial atmosphere. Wike reportedly listened to the teachers’ demands one by one and gave immediate directives to his officials on the way forward. The minister is said to have committed to fast-tracking the release of promotion letters and clearing a backlog of leave grants that had accumulated over several years. On the issue of salary review, Wike reportedly promised to set up a joint committee to work out the financial implications and present a sustainable plan within two weeks. The NUT leadership, while not declaring an end to the strike, described the minister’s responses as “encouraging” and said they would take the proposals back to their members for consideration.
The FCT Minister has, in recent months, made a series of interventions in the education sector that have drawn both praise and scepticism. Since his appointment, Wike has rehabilitated several dilapidated primary schools, distributed furniture and instructional materials, and cleared the backlog of teacher promotion interviews conducted in 2024. He has also secured the release of funds for the construction of new classrooms in under-served area councils such as Kwali and Kuje. However, the NUT had insisted that these capital projects, while welcome, did not address the core welfare issues of the teachers themselves. The union argued that without a motivated and fairly compensated teaching workforce, investments in infrastructure would yield limited results. Thursday’s meeting appears to have bridged that gap, with the minister shifting his focus squarely to personnel matters.
The strike has had significant ripple effects across the FCT. Many parents have been forced to keep their children at home or pay for private tutoring, straining household budgets in a period of high inflation. Some civil servants reported having to take time off work to supervise their children, leading to reduced productivity in several government offices. The FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) had earlier appealed to the teachers to call off the strike, warning that the prolonged shutdown could affect pupils’ performance in upcoming national assessments. The board also noted that the FCT Administration had already approved the payment of N1.5 billion for the promotion of teachers and other staff, a figure the union said was still inadequate.
The NUT’s decision to commend Wike in the middle of an ongoing strike is unusual and has sparked discussions among education stakeholders. Some see it as a strategic move to maintain pressure on the minister while acknowledging his responsiveness, hoping that public praise will encourage him to follow through on his promises. Others argue that the union should wait for concrete actions before expressing satisfaction. However, Comrade Shafa defended the union’s stance, stating that the minister had shown unprecedented understanding of the teachers’ plight and deserved recognition for his willingness to engage. “We are not celebrating yet, but we are hopeful. This is the first time a minister has sat with us for hours and taken our demands seriously,” Shafa said.
As the meeting continued into the evening, reports emerged that the minister had directed the FCT Head of Service to immediately process the payment of outstanding leave grants for all primary school teachers. He also ordered the FCT Universal Basic Education Board to release the names of teachers due for promotion and ensure that their letters are handed over within seven days. These directives, if implemented, could address two of the major grievances that triggered the strike. The issue of salary review, however, may take longer because it involves budgetary adjustments and approval from the Federal Government.
The NUT leadership has not set a deadline for calling off the strike, but sources indicated that the union’s National Executive Council will meet within 48 hours to review the outcomes of the meeting with Wike. If the minister’s commitments are deemed sufficient, the strike could be suspended as early as next week, allowing pupils to return to their classrooms. Parents and guardians across the FCT are watching the developments closely, hoping that the optimism expressed by the union chairman translates into a swift resolution.
The FCT Minister’s handling of the teachers’ strike is being closely watched by labour groups across the country. If he succeeds in resolving the dispute amicably, it could set a template for other states grappling with similar industrial actions. For now, the talks continue, and the children of the FCT remain at home, waiting for the sound of school bells to ring once more.
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