Abuja Primary School Teachers Demand Immediate Payment of Arrears to Resolve Strike
Primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have intensified their call for the immediate settlement of long-standing salary arrears and allowances, citing severe economic hardship. On February 5, 2026, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Wing, reiterated that the ongoing industrial action in the nation’s capital remains a direct consequence of the government’s failure to implement the 40 percent peculiar allowance and other accumulated entitlements. The union emphasized that while secondary schools remain operational, the strike by primary school educators has left thousands of pupils stranded, highlighting the urgent need for a fiscal resolution to the city’s educational crisis.
The standoff between the educators and the FCT Administration (FCTA) centers on the non-payment of the minimum wage consequential adjustment arrears, which have remained outstanding for over 30 months. Despite several high-level meetings and promises of a phased payment plan, the union maintains that no tangible disbursements have reached its members. This delay has been exacerbated by the current inflationary environment in Nigeria, which has significantly eroded the purchasing power of civil servants. Teachers have expressed that the lack of financial facilitation has made daily commuting to their duty posts increasingly difficult, directly impacting the logistics of urban education.
From a macroeconomic perspective, the disruption of primary education in the FCT poses a long-term threat to human capital development, a key pillar of Nigeria’s $1 trillion GDP target. Educational stability is critical for ensuring that the future workforce is equipped with foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Furthermore, the strike has a localized economic impact on the FCT, as working parents are forced to seek alternative childcare or miss work, leading to a temporary drop in productivity across various sectors. The FCTA’s 2026 budget, which prioritizes infrastructure and “Renewed Hope” initiatives, is now under pressure to accommodate these personnel-related liabilities to restore normalcy.
The fiscal challenges facing the Area Councils—which are primarily responsible for the payment of primary school teachers—remain a major bottleneck. There has been a persistent debate over the autonomy of these councils and their ability to generate sufficient internal revenue to meet their wage obligations. To address this, there are growing calls for a more transparent “first-line charge” system where teacher salaries are prioritized directly from the federation account. Such a move would prevent the “diversion” of funds that union leaders often blame for the recurring arrears.
Historically, the FCT has prided itself on having a more stable educational environment compared to other states. However, the current “Abuja crisis” in the primary education sub-sector marks a significant departure from this trend. The situation mirrors broader national challenges where the “security of livelihoods” for essential workers is often sidelined by capital expenditure projects. To resolve the impasse, the NUT has demanded a clear, time-bound commitment from the FCT Minister and the Chairmen of the six Area Councils, warning that the strike will continue indefinitely until the credit alerts are received by its members.
As the strike enters its next phase, the focus remains on the “logistics of settlement.” The FCTA has appealed for calm, suggesting that the delay is due to the ongoing verification of the workforce to eliminate “ghost workers” and ensure that payments are made to legitimate personnel. However, for the thousands of teachers waiting for their arrears, the immediate priority is the restoration of their financial dignity. The resolution of this crisis will be a major indicator of the government’s ability to manage its labor relations and protect the integrity of the capital’s public school system.
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