FCT LEA Teachers Stage Sit-in, Demand 25 Months’ Unpaid Wage Arrears
By Matthew Eloyi
Teachers from the Local Education Authority (LEA) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) staged a sit-in protest at the secretariats of all six area councils, demanding the payment of 25 months’ worth of minimum wage arrears and other entitlements owed to them.
Protests erupted in Abaji, Kwali, Gwagwalada, and Kuje, where men, women, and even nursing mothers gathered at the entrances of the area councils. Carrying placards with messages such as “Pay us our balance of 60% minimum wage arrears,” “No to unfulfilled agreements,” “Let LEA Teachers Breathe,” and “Our members are dying every day without their benefits,” the teachers voiced their frustration over the continued neglect of their financial needs.
Zuwaira, one of the protesting teachers, shared her struggles: “I have four children in school, and I can’t afford their fees since my husband has been retired for over three years. The chairmen treat us like second-class citizens despite our sacrifices in our roles.”
Another teacher, Michael Azuka, criticised the council chairmen for neglecting their duties despite receiving substantial monthly allocations. “None of these chairmen have their kids in public schools in the FCT, so they seem indifferent to our welfare while they indulge in building mansions and purchasing luxury cars for their associates,” he alleged.
The Secretary of the FCT wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Margaret Jethro, confirmed that the union had called for the sit-in to express the teachers’ dissatisfaction. She revealed that despite meetings with the council chairmen, no concrete solutions had been provided.
“We met with the chairmen last Saturday, but there was no positive outcome. They only vaguely mentioned plans to pay without committing anything in writing,” she said. Jethro also recalled that similar empty assurances were given in January during a meeting that included FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Another meeting is scheduled between the NUT and the council chairmen on Thursday to further discuss the issue, but the teachers remain skeptical about any real progress.