The decision was announced in Gwagwalada by the Chairman of the State Wing Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Abdullahi Shafa, after an emergency meeting to review progress in negotiations with the FCT administration.
According to Shafa, the suspension of the strike—initially declared on April 20—was largely influenced by the intervention of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who made a series of financial and administrative commitments aimed at resolving the dispute.
Among the key measures announced is the approval of N2 billion monthly from the FCT’s Internally Generated Revenue, alongside an additional N3 billion sourced from 10 per cent of area councils’ IGR. The funds are expected to cover the implementation of a 40 per cent peculiar allowance and clear outstanding entitlements owed to primary school teachers.
The minister also pledged to address longstanding concerns around career progression. This includes plans to engage the FCT Civil Service Commission to remove vacancy constraints tied to promotions and to revisit the 2024 promotion exercise.
Following these assurances, the union directed all affected teachers to resume duties on Monday, April 27. It also confirmed that guarantees had been secured to ensure no participant in the strike would face victimisation.
However, the union signaled that its decision remains conditional. Shafa noted that the council would reassess its stance if the government fails to implement the agreed measures.
The strike had been triggered after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the minister over unresolved welfare issues, despite partial progress such as the payment of the new minimum wage and some salary arrears. Key demands included improved welfare provisions, resolution of promotion bottlenecks, and full settlement of outstanding benefits.
While normal academic activities are expected to resume across the FCT, the situation remains under close watch as stakeholders await the fulfilment of the government’s commitments.