By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Effective June 23, 2025, the striking Joint Union of Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees NULGE, and National Association of Health Workers Union, will be hitting the streets of the Federal Capital Territory FCT for a three-day show down to draw attention to their plight, the Joint Union officials announced on Wednesday, June 18,2025.
This is as the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, signaled its readiness to lead a mass action, and picketing of the entire FCT administration.
The Source reports that the FCT teachers/Local Council workers had since March 24, 2025, embarked on an indefinite industrial action to press home their demands for the implementation of the minimum wage, and payment of outstanding allowances.
Although the strike action has completely paralyzed teaching and learning activities within the over 400 public primary schools, as well as the six Area Council of the FCT, the authorities have remained insensitive to the plights and demands of the concern personnel.
The striking teachers and Local Government workers are accusing the FCT adminstration of paying lip service to a Memorandum of Understanding MoU entered into with them on December 11, 2024.
The tripartite MoU which involved the FCT, and the three industrial unions- NUT, NULGE and Health Workers Union, centred on the payment of the N70,000 new minimum wage, the settlement of at least five months of accumulated allowances ,and the setting aside of at least 50% of the IGR of the six FCT Councils for the settlement of the arrears and minimum wage.
According to the MoU, the Minister of State FCT, was to head the Implementation Committee.
However, the striking teachers and Council workers regretted that several months after the signing of MoU, nothing has been done.
The Unions said their decision to take to the street was sequel to the expiry of NLC’s earlier seven days ultimatum given the Councils to settle all areas of disagreement with the workers .
The NLC dateline ended on Wednesday June 18,2025 ,without any response from the FCT authorities.
An earlier protest scheduled by the workers for Thursday June 19, has been shifted forward to align with the general NLC organized protest on June 23, one of the striking teachers volunteered .
The FCT NLC, in a letter issued on Wednesday by its Chairman, Stephen Knabayi, expressed deep disappointment over the continued refusal of the FCT Council authorities to pay teachers and others their new minimum wage.
“Your refusal to act on our position letter and demands, served on you since 24th of April, 2025 was noted with displeasure. Also, you have not acted on our letter dated 16th of May ,2025”, the NLC stated in a letter to the FCT authorities.
Consequently, the NLC said it has resolved to take mass action unless urgent steps are taken to resolve the disagreement.
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