Minimum wage: Strike unfortunate, we will soon sort it out — Wike

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has described the strike embarked upon by primary school teachers under the Local Education Authority (LEA) and area councils’ staff across the six area councils over the non-payment of their ₦70,000 minimum wage by the area council chairmen as unfortunate.

Wike disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while addressing newsmen after an inspection tour of ongoing infrastructure projects in the territory.

The Minister stated that strike actions have never solved any problem but rather created more issues. However, he promised to resolve the matter within a short time and ensure that the area councils implement the minimum wage as approved by the National Assembly.

He said:

“It is unfortunate. Two days ago, I had a meeting with the security agencies, the Area Council Chairmen, and the Minister of State regarding security issues, and we had to make them understand the situation. During that meeting, the issue of the strike by primary school teachers also came up. I directed the Honorable Minister of State to invite the teachers and see what could be done.

“It is unfortunate—really unfortunate—that this minimum wage issue is still unresolved. But, as I said, we will ensure that the teachers return to work.

“We will do everything we can to ensure that the area councils implement the minimum wage as approved by the National Assembly. However, I have also emphasized that some teachers need to understand the impact of going on strike. Proper dialogue and consultation should be pursued instead.

“Just two days ago, I was informed about this issue, and I directed the Minister of State to take action. Now, for them to go on strike despite that directive is not good.

“We are talking about the interest of Nigeria, not just the interest of a few individuals. Strike actions have never solved any problem; rather, they have created more issues. I believe that within a short time, we will resolve it.”

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The joint union of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) had directed both primary school teachers under the Local Education Authority (LEA) and area councils’ staff across the six area councils to resume their suspended strike on Thursday, February 13, 2025, over the non-payment of the ₦70,000 minimum wage by the area council chairmen.

Speaking during a joint press conference at the end of an NUT and NULGE executives’ meeting held at the Teachers’ House in Gwagwalada on Wednesday, the Chairman of the FCT NUT Wing, Comrade Mohammed Shafas, said the joint unions decided to resume the suspended strike due to the failure of the six council chairmen to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage for both primary school teachers and staff of the six area councils.

He stated that despite the fact that primary school teachers and area councils’ staff suspended their strike on December 12, 2024, after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the joint unions and the six area council chairmen to commence the implementation of the minimum wage in January 2025, the council chairmen failed to uphold the agreement.

He added that the six council chairmen had also failed to address other outstanding demands of their members, which included:

A 40% peculiar allowance
A 25% and 35% salary increment
A 35% wage award, among others
He emphasized that both the FCT NUT and the FCT NULGE found it necessary to inform the general public that all civil servants in the FCT had received their ₦70,000 minimum wage, except primary school teachers and staff of the six area councils in the FCT.

“It is saddening to note that all six area council chairmen have reneged on the agreement they signed on December 9, 2024, to implement the new minimum wage by January 2025,” the joint union stated.

The joint union further lamented that despite a letter from the Office of the FCT ALGON through its Chairman, Danladi Chiya, which acknowledged an irrevocable agreement between the six area council chairmen and organized labour unions to implement the minimum wage in January 2025, the council chairmen failed to follow through.

“Based on this, the joint union of the FCT NUT and the FCT NULGE has unanimously resolved and directed all primary school teachers and staff of the six area councils in the FCT to resume the suspended strike action from Thursday, February 13, 2025, until their demands are met,” the union stated.