Strike: FCT council chairman begs teachers to resume work

The chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Kasim Mohammed Ikwa, has appealed to primary and secondary school teachers to resume classes while negotiations between labour unions and the FCT Administration over their demands continue.

Ikwa made the appeal yesterday when he met with executives of the Gwagwalada branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in his office.

He urged the union leadership to allow schools to reopen for academic activities in the interest of parents and pupils, pending the resolution of the dispute between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the FCT Administration.

The chairman expressed concern over the impact of the prolonged school closure on children in rural communities, noting that some areas of the FCT already faced educational disadvantages.

He warned that the continued disruption of academic activities could further undermine learning opportunities for pupils in such communities.

Ikwa appealed to the teachers to consider the interests of pupils and students while negotiations continued, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to engaging stakeholders in the education sector to resolve the dispute.

He expressed optimism that constructive dialogue would lead to an amicable resolution.

In his response, the Gwagwalada branch chairman of the NUT, Comrade Abubakar Ahmed Sadiq, appreciated Ikwa’s intervention, saying teachers were equally concerned about the situation but felt compelled to join the industrial action over issues affecting their welfare and career progression.

He highlighted concerns over promotion opportunities, particularly the challenges confronting teachers who had attained certain grade levels.

Sadiq called for improved communication between the government and union leaders to ensure that teachers’ grievances received adequate attention.