Primary school teachers under the employment of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Universal Basic Education Board took to the streets on Thursday in a mass protest over the prolonged non-payment of their entitlements.
The aggrieved teachers, drawn from various Area Councils within the FCT, marched to the FCT Administration headquarters carrying placards with messages such as: “Teachers Deserve Better,” “Pay Our Arrears Now,” and “No Education Without Teachers.” They accused the authorities of neglecting their welfare and deliberately delaying the payment of salaries, promotion arrears, and other statutory benefits.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Comrade Hassan Idris, a senior union representative, decried the government’s lack of responsiveness to their plight. “We have written letters, held meetings, and exhausted all diplomatic means. The authorities have failed to act. Teachers cannot continue to work under such unjust and demoralizing conditions.”
According to the union, some of the unpaid entitlements date back as far as 2021. They include leave grants, promotion benefits, and peculiar allowances approved by the government but yet to be implemented by the Area Councils.
Efforts by Madmo News to reach the FCT Education Secretariat for comments were unsuccessful as of press time. However, a senior official who spoke off the record assured that steps were being taken to resolve the issue and urged the teachers to remain calm.
Security operatives were present at the protest venue to maintain order, though the demonstration remained peaceful.
The protesting teachers have vowed to continue their industrial action until their demands are met, raising concerns over potential disruption of academic activities across public primary schools in the territory.
– MADMO News
