FCT teachers’ strike may linger as ALGON says demands not feasible
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has said that the demands of the striking primary school teachers in the territory are not feasible. The teachers are also insisting not to return to classes unless their demands are met. Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi, the National Chairman of the association […]
A teacher addressing primary school pupils during morning devotion at L.E.A primary school in Jabi Abuja recently
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has said that the demands of the striking primary school teachers in the territory are not feasible.
The teachers are also insisting not to return to classes unless their demands are met.
Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi, the National Chairman of the association and Chairman of Abaji Area Council noted that what the teachers were requesting were not feasible, adding that contrary to their claims, he met with the NUT leadership on Saturday and Sunday.
He said, “I met with the NUT leadership twice. I met with the chairman on Saturday evening and asked him to arrange a meeting with his executives; which I attended in their head office in Gwagwalada. I pleaded with them, and we are still pleading with them, to reconsider their action. What they are requesting is not feasible.”
The chairman stressed the need to join hands with the leadership of the NUT to approach the Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, for help.
He said, “He just assumed office. We appealed to them to give him at least three months to settle down so that we can approach him with their complaints, but they insisted they had to go on with the strike.
“So, we have no option than to wait for the minister to call on us so that we can explain things to him.”
Recall that the FCT Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in a communique issued last week Wednesday directed all primary school teachers in the FCT to begin an indefinite strike from Thursday.
The strike action, according to the communique, followed the failure of the six area council chairmen to pay the teachers 40 per cent peculiar and other outstanding allowances.
The communique was jointly signed by Mr Stephen Knabayi, Ms Margaret Jethro and Mr Haruna Samson, chairman, secretary and publicity secretary, respectively.