Abuja teachers suspend strike after N16bn debt payment

The Federal Capital Territory wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers has announced the suspension of its over three-month-old strike by primary school teachers, with a directive for members to return to classrooms starting Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

The decision follows the intervention of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who convened a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday, July 3, to address the lingering impasse.

Primary school teachers in the FCT embarked on the industrial action on March 24, 2025, over the non-payment of arrears and failure to implement the new national minimum wage.

The minister had resolved to use 10 per cent of internally generated revenue for the area councils to offset the owed salaries of the primary school teachers.

In a communique issued at the end of an emergency State Wing Executive Council meeting held on Friday, July 4, 2025, at the FCT Teachers’ House in Gwagwalada, the union said the latest offer from the FCT minister provided a workable pathway to temporarily halt the action.

The SWEC, after reviewing the minister’s offer, noted the “positive disposition of the minister for taking over the payment of the primary school teachers’ emoluments by the FCTA,” and resolved to suspend the strike upon the release and disbursement of the N16bn.

Having deliberated exhaustively on the aforementioned offers, including the positive disposition of the minister for the taking over the payment of the primary school teachers’ emoluments by the FCTA, the SWEC-In-Session resolved to suspend the strike on the release of the N16bn and its payment to the Teachers accounts.

Consequent upon the implementation of the new minimum wage and payment of five months arrears into the teachers’ accounts today, July 8, 2025; the SWEC hereby suspends the ongoing strike action and appeals to all primary school teachers in FCT to, with effect from Wednesday, July 9, 2025, return to the classrooms and continue as the union intensifies more efforts to their legitimate duties while ensuring the settlement of the remaining entitlements,” the communique read.

The union also extended its appreciation to stakeholders and supporters who stood by them during the industrial action.

“The SWEC-in-session wishes to use this medium to appreciate all members, especially the primary school teachers for their unwavering support, solidarity, cooperation and prayers while the strike lasted.

“Our special thanks go to the FCT royal fathers, civil society organisations, and other well-meaning individuals who, in one way or another, intervened and stood by us during the strike.

“We equally wish to thank the National Head Office of our Union-NUT, the National and the FCT council of the NLC for the support and guidance,” the communique stated.