Teachers and pupils at LEA Ijayapi Primary School and LEA Byazhin Primary School in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, FCT, stayed away from classrooms on Monday as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) enforced an indefinite strike.
A visit to the schools around 7:55 a.m. showed empty premises, with no teachers or students present. Classrooms were locked, while doors and windows remained shut, confirming full compliance with the directive.
The strike action followed an order issued by the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the NUT, directing all primary and secondary school teachers in the FCT to withdraw their services starting Monday.
The directive was contained in a communiqué released after an emergency SWEC meeting held in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Friday. It was signed by State Chairman Abdullahi Shafa, State Secretary Margaret Jethro, and State Publicity Secretary Ibukun Adekeye.
The union instructed all teachers to strictly adhere to the strike and await further communication.
Parents were also advised to keep their children at home until further notice, as academic activities would remain suspended.
According to the union, the action followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on March 11, which lapsed on March 29.
While the NUT commended the minister for implementing the new N70,000 minimum wage and clearing nine months of salary arrears owed to primary school teachers, it said several other outstanding issues remained unresolved, prompting the industrial action.
