FCTA Approves N7bn For Primary School Teachers’ Salaries

The Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA) has approved the payment of N7bn to cover 25 per cent of the salary arrears of primary school teachers in the territory.

Recall that the teachers had Embarked on strike January 15, 2024 following the failure of the FCT Administration to fulfill its demand for the implementation of 40 per cent peculiar allowance and payment of 25 months minimum wage arrears amongst others.

The union had THREATENED(Link 2) that if the demands of the primary school teachers were not paid before January 19, 2024, all secondary school teachers in the FCT would join in the strike.

However, the Secretary for Education in the FCTA, Danlami Hayyo, disclosed during a familiarization visit to the management of the FCT Universal Basic Education Board in Abuja that the FCT Administration has taken action to ensure that the teachers go back to the classrooms.

He noted that the FCTA will cover 40 per cent of the overdue arrears, with the remaining 60 per cent would be paid by the Area Councils.

Hayyo further stated that the Administration has mandated the Area Councils and the FCT to pay within three months, emphasizing that the funds will be deducted at the source and remitted to them.

He noted that the essence of his visit was to see how the secretariat can collaborate with the Board towards achieving its mandate.

“I am thankful to God that the Board has counterpart funding in addition to the BESDA account.

“I promise that the available resources from UBEC and UBEB will be used to address the challenges,” he said.