The teachers, who have been on strike since late 2024, are protesting the non-payment of their salaries, outstanding allowances, and the failure to implement the newly approved ₦70,000 minimum wage. Despite widespread public outcry and several failed negotiation attempts, the industrial action has persisted, leaving schools in the FCT paralyzed.
In response to the escalating crisis, the FCT Administration announced that it had disbursed over ₦4.1 billion to the area councils. This revelation initially offered hope that the strike might be resolved. However, to the shock of many, the teachers say they have yet to receive any portion of the funds. The NUT claims that the money, which was meant to settle salary arrears and improve working conditions, cannot be accounted for.
“We are baffled and angry,” a senior official of the NUT stated. “The government claims the money has been released, but the area councils have offered no explanation for why it hasn’t reached the teachers. Where did the money go?”
The situation has drawn the attention of the National Assembly, which has since stepped in to investigate. A joint parliamentary committee has been established to probe the financial trail of the ₦4.1 billion. Council chairmen have been summoned and instructed to present detailed breakdowns of how the money was allocated and spent. The Permanent Secretary of the FCT Treasury Department is also expected to face questioning.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, addressing the matter, expressed disappointment in the local government leadership, accusing them of diverting funds intended to end the strike. “We released the money for teachers — not for political projects or personal enrichment,” Wike said during a media briefing.
However, labor leaders remain skeptical about the government’s sincerity. Stephen Knabayi, chairman of the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), accused authorities of playing for time. “This whole investigation looks like a smokescreen to delay action. The teachers are suffering, and our patience is running out,” he warned.
With the strike ongoing and the fate of billions of naira shrouded in mystery, the education sector in the FCT hangs in the balance. Parents, students, and teachers alike are demanding justice — not just in the form of salaries paid, but in ensuring those responsible for the mismanagement of public funds are held accountable.
The NUT has warned that if nothing changes by the end of the month, a fresh wave of protests will be launched, possibly bringing parts of the FCT to a halt once
again.
