•FCT minister, Nyesom Wike
The joint union’s of the FCT wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has told the six area council chairmen that the union will only suspend its ongoing strike action when primary school teachers start receiving arrears.
A member of the state executive council committee of the union’s disclosed the development to our reporter on the telephone today, reports Daily Trust.
The member, who wanted to be anonymous because he was not authorised to speak to the press, said the joint unions executives gave the conditions during two separate meetings held last Thursday, and Friday.
He stated that the six area council chairmen in Abuja, pleaded with the union’s to suspend the strike to give room for negotiations, but the meeting ended in deadlock.
The source said the joint unions expressed their displeasure and disappointment with the constant breach of agreements by the six council chairmen and the non-prioritising of the welfare of the primary school teachers and area council workers.
He said though the joint unions appreciated the council chairmen for the implementation of the new minimum wage it was just one of the many other outstanding demands of the unions.
According to him, the joint union resolved at the end of the meeting that the pronouncement of the FCT Ninister, Nyemson Wike, to use the 10% FCT lRS of the councils to offset the area council workers’ entitlements be adopted.
“At the joint meeting, the union also demanded that the payment should commence with the eight months’ arrears of the new minimum wage of the LEAs and area Council workers amounting to over N16 billion,” he added.
