Teachers from the Local Education Authority (LEA) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) staged a sit-in at the secretariats of all six area councils, demanding the payment of 25 months’ worth of minimum wage arrears and other owed entitlements.
Protesting teachers, including men, women, and nursing mothers, gathered in large groups at the entrances of the area councils in Abaji, Kwali, Gwagwalada, and Kuje. They held placards with messages such as “Pay us our 60% minimum wage arrears,” “No to unfulfilled agreements,” “Give us our rights,” “Let LEA Teachers Breathe,” and “Our members are dying every day without their benefits.”
Teachers expressed their frustration over the ongoing non-payment of their entitlements by the area council chairmen. Many LEA primary school teachers are facing severe financial hardships despite their commitment to educating children in the FCT.
One teacher, identified as Zuwaira, shared her struggles: “I have four children in school, and I can’t afford their fees since my husband has been retired for over three years. The chairmen treat us like second-class citizens despite our sacrifices.”
Another teacher, Michael Azuka, explained that the protest aimed to highlight the chairmen’s failure to pay outstanding arrears. He noted that, despite receiving substantial monthly allocations, the chairmen have neglected the teachers’ financial needs. “None of these chairmen have their kids in public schools in the FCT, so they seem indifferent to our welfare while indulging in building mansions and buying luxury cars for their associates,” he alleged.
Comrade Margaret Jethro, Secretary of the FCT wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), confirmed that the union organized the sit-in to express teachers’ dissatisfaction with the current situation. She mentioned that meetings with the council chairmen had not yielded tangible solutions. “We met with the chairmen last Saturday, but there was no positive outcome. They only vaguely mentioned plans to pay without committing anything in writing,” she explained.
Jethro also pointed out that similar assurances were made in January during a meeting that included FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, yet no actions followed. She noted that another meeting between the NUT and the area council chairmen is scheduled for Thursday to further discuss the issue.
