FCT Minister, Bello appeals to teachers’ union to call off strike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has urged the FCT wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to end its strike, which is currently affecting primary schools operated by the Local Education Authorities (LEA) in the area councils.

Following the FCT Security Committee meeting for the month of November on Thursday, the Minister made this appeal.

Members of the FCT Security Committee, according to Bello, made similar requests to the NUT to end the strike, claiming that the ongoing walkout was playing into the hands of groups seeking to harm the country.

The Minister also said, “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.”

“My appeal to the teachers is this, no society can develop without education.”

He, therefore, urged Administrators at the Area Council, religious and traditional leaders to dialogue with the teachers.

Speaking 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 of the Territory over the last few weeks.

He said that a number of incidents, 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 a member of his family, but the plan was foiled and the criminals arrested.

The Minister 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 broken.

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

Recall that the FCT chapter of the NUT commenced a five-day warning strike on November 18 over the non-payment of their promotion salary arrears, lack of teachers’ upgrade and insecurity, among others.

Knabayi said the demands of the teachers are in two folds, adding that teachers under the FCT Administration and those under the area councils are affected.