By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Secretary for Education, Mr Dahir El- Katuzu has linked the suspension of LEA teachers’ strike action to the intervention of the FCT Minister , Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello.
El- Katuzu who disclosed this on Monday at the FCTA Executive Committee meeting stated that the intervention of the Minister was primarily responsible for the suspension of the strike action embarked upon by the FCT Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) over the non-payment of certain allowances to LEA primary school teachers by Area Councils of the FCT.
He said, “what we need to show people is that it is the intervention of the Hon. Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello that gave rise to the achievement of a settlement between the striking NUT and the Six Area Council Chairmen. The grievance on which they went to strike was the non-payment of their salaries, the arrears of promotion and annual increment.”
He explained that the issue of formation of payment templates from the Area Councils has been worked out.
The Secretary also expressed the appreciation of all stakeholders in the education sector to the Minister for not relenting in his efforts in bringing the trade dispute to an end.
It would be recalled that the FCT Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers suspended its eight week long strike action on Thursday, 24th March 2022.
Following the strike the minister had set up a tripartite committee to resolve the lingering labour issues between the teachers and the Area Councils.
Meanwhile the.Barr Babangida Umar a member of the EXCO meeting revealed that in line with the President’s agenda to create employment in the country the FCTA has been created Thirty Seven thousand direct and indirect jobs have been created in the last 14 years.
Present at the meeting were Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, Executive Secretary FCDA Engr Shehu Hadi Ahmed, Mandate Secretaries and other senior officials of the Administration.
