FCT Minister Urges Teachers to Call off Strike

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has appealed to the FCT Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to call off its ongoing strike, lamenting it is currently affecting the primary schools managed by the Local Education Authorities (LEA) in the six area councils.

He made the appeal Thursday night after the Security Committee meeting for the month of November.

The workers were protesting over concern about insecurity for teachers in remote schools in addition to the non payment of arrears of promotion benefits for teachers.

Bello noted that the continuous industrial action was playing into the hands of elements determined to cripple the country.

“The bedrock of our education is the primary school system and we should not allow students to suffer for issues that really are not their fault. The chairmen of the Area Councils are engaging with the teachers and we have the assurances that they will reach an agreement,” Bello said.

He pleaded with the teachers to realise that no society can develop without education.

He also called on administrators at the Area Councils and all religious and traditional leaders to dialogue with the teachers.

On other security issues, the minister expressed his appreciation to the heads of security agencies in the FCT for the improvements in the security situation in the Territory over the last few weeks.

He said that a number of incidences, including kidnapping were averted with the cooperation of security operatives and the citizenry, adding that in a certain community, criminals had perfected plans to kidnap a Pastor alongside member of his family, but the plan was foiled and the criminals arrested.

He revealed that from the number of arrests made over the past few weeks, a criminal network that operated across the FCT and neighboring states had certainly been dismantled.

He expressed optimism that interventions by the FCT Administration will give the desired security results going into the New Year.

In his own remarks after the security committee meeting, FCT ALGON Chairman, Adamu Mustapha Danze, assured that the Area Councils will continue to play complimentary roles in maintaining security in the FCT.

He commended the FCT Minister for efforts made in the fencing of schools across the Territory and the provision of other security measures to safeguard schools across the FCT.

Hon Danze also appealed to the striking teachers to call off the industrial action as it will have negative consequences on the country.

The Security Committee meeting had in attendance the FCT Command Police Commissioner, Babaji Sunday, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, heads of the various military and paramilitary formations across the FCT, religious and traditional rulers, Area Council Chairmen and senior officials of the FCTA.