FCT teachers have ended their three-month strike after receiving minimum wage and salary arrears.
Classes resume July 9 as NUT warns of fresh action if government fails to comply.
After more than three months of industrial action, primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have officially suspended their strike, with academic activities set to resume on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
The announcement was made by the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) following an emergency meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday. In a communiqué released afterward, the union confirmed that the decision came after the payment of the new minimum wage and five months’ salary arrears.
“All primary school teachers in the FCT are to resume duty on Wednesday,” the NUT stated.
The strike, which commenced in March 2025, crippled academic activities in public primary schools across Nigeria’s capital, affecting thousands of pupils. Teachers had downed tools in protest over the non-payment of the revised wage structure and mounting arrears despite repeated appeals to the government.
However, the impasse was eventually broken following the intervention of the FCT Minister, who facilitated dialogue between the union, area council authorities, and other key stakeholders.
As part of the resolution, the government approved the disbursement of ₦16 billion from the Area Council’s share of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). The funds were specifically earmarked to settle the new minimum wage obligations and address part of the backlog.
In the communiqué, the union confirmed that teachers began receiving credit alerts on Tuesday, July 8, marking a breakthrough in the standoff.
“We appreciate the timely efforts of the Honorable Minister and the stakeholders involved in breaking this deadlock,” the NUT noted.
Although classes will resume, the NUT warned that the strike could resume without hesitation if the government fails to honor its commitments under the new agreement.
To ensure transparency and future sustainability, the union revealed that a special committee will be constituted within the next two weeks. This body will reconcile outstanding entitlements and develop a framework for the consistent funding of teachers’ salaries.
The NUT also extended gratitude to its members for their patience and resilience throughout the industrial action. The union recognized the support of traditional rulers, civil society organizations, and other advocacy groups who stood in solidarity with the teachers during the extended walkout.
The development marks a hopeful turning point for education in the FCT as pupils and parents prepare for the return to classrooms. Stakeholders, however, remain cautious, with their eyes now on the government’s long-term commitment to funding basic education and labor rights compliance.
