Indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have made a passionate appeal to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to urgently intervene and bring an end to the prolonged strike by primary school teachers across the territory. The call came amid growing concern over the negative impact of the industrial action on the academic future of thousands of pupils in public primary schools.
The teachers’ strike, which initially began in December 2024 with two brief boycotts, has since escalated, resurfacing in February 2025 and remaining unresolved into May. The industrial action has crippled learning activities across primary schools managed by local governments in Abuja, leaving classrooms deserted and parents increasingly frustrated.
On Thursday, protesting teachers and local government workers took to the streets in a dramatic demonstration, blocking access to the FCT Minister’s office in Area 11, Garki. Their action was aimed at pressuring authorities to meet their long-standing demands, which centre on unpaid salaries and allowances.
Despite a recent declaration by the FCT Minister during the Workers’ Day celebration that ₦4.1 billion had been released to area council chairmen to settle outstanding salaries, the strike has not yet been called off. This delay has sparked criticism and anxiety among education stakeholders, parents, and community leaders.
In response, the FCT Stakeholders Assembly, a coalition representing indigenous communities of Abuja, held an emergency meeting on Friday to address the deepening crisis. Speaking at the forum, the President of the Assembly, Aliyu Daniel, urged the minister to prioritise the education sector and immediately resolve the strike.
“We urge the Honourable Minister to wade into the matter and bring an end to the teachers’ strike. The future of our children must not be jeopardised,” Daniel stated. He noted that the prolonged closure of schools poses a serious threat to the academic development of pupils and has already disrupted the 2024/2025 school calendar.
While commending Wike for his “unprecedented achievements” in infrastructural development within the FCT, Daniel stressed that addressing the education crisis is equally critical. He cited projects such as the ₦50 billion potable water initiative for satellite towns and other road projects as indicators of Wike’s performance. However, he noted that no matter the progress in infrastructure, the neglect of education could reverse long-term development goals.
“No previous minister has come close to this level of commitment,” Daniel remarked. “But our children must not be the ones to suffer. Teachers are the foundation of any thriving society, and their welfare must be treated as a matter of urgent national importance.”
The Assembly also used the opportunity to advocate for a broader dialogue on the political development of the FCT, including calls for statehood and better representation at the national level. They appealed to indigenes in the diaspora and across Nigeria to unify efforts in promoting the rights and interests of the FCT’s original inhabitants.
The ongoing teachers’ strike is part of a broader labour dispute involving local government workers who have repeatedly complained about delayed salaries, lack of promotion, and poor working conditions. Several civil society organisations have also condemned the impasse, warning that the education of Abuja’s future generation is hanging in the balance.
While the National Assembly has reportedly initiated efforts to mediate between the parties involved, the lack of immediate resolution continues to breed resentment and threaten the credibility of governance in the FCT.
As pressure mounts, the focus now shifts to the area council chairmen, who have reportedly received the allocated funds. Parents and community leaders are calling for transparency in how the ₦4.1 billion will be disbursed and for a clear timeline for resumption of classes.
Unless urgent action is taken, stakeholders fear that more students may turn to informal work, fall behind academically, or drop out of school altogether—deepening the socioeconomic challenges already facing the capital.