Striking Primary school teachers in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have halted their three weeks strike over non-payment of outstanding arrears.
National Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Chairman, Comrade Stephen Knabayi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in which he said the union suspended the strike after meetings it held on Tuesday and Wednesday with the management of the council.
The primary school teachers in the six area councils in FCT had on Jan 26, embarked on an indefinite strike.
The teachers said they were aggrieved over failure of the area councils to reach an agreement with the union over their outstanding entitlements.
The chairman said that sequel to the resumption of industrial action earlier suspended on Dec. 1, 2021, Gwagwalada Area Council and the union met on Tuesday and Wednesday where agreement was reached on how the arrears would be paid.
“The meeting came up with templates on modalities for the payment of all outstanding arrears commencing from February, 2022.
“Consequent to the above, all LEA teachers comprising of NUT Gwagwalada and Zuba branches are by this directed to resume their normal duties with effect from Feb. 10.
“We wish to commend the teaming teachers of Gwagwalada Area Council for their patience, resilience, cooperation, solidarity and support while the struggle lasted,’’ he said.
The chairman directed the teachers “to go about their normal duties without any fear of harassment.’’
The teachers in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), had also suspended their strike following an agreement with the area council management.
At a media parley, the AMAC Chairman, Mr Abdullahi Candido, who announced this, said that the council had directed the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee of the FCT to deduct the teachers’ entitlements from the amount accruing to it.