Minimum wage: Education minister wades into FCT primary school teachers’ industrial dispute

By Kunle Sanni –

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has intervened in the ongoing industrial dispute between primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and local authorities over the implementation of the new national minimum wage.

The intervention follows concerns raised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT chapter, in a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting held in Gwagwalada on March 22, 2025. The teachers expressed frustration over the failure of the six FCT Area Councils to implement the new wage structure for staff in Local Education Authority (LEA) primary schools.

Although the management of primary schools in the FCT is the responsibility of the Area Councils and their LEAs, the Federal Ministry of Education has called for constructive dialogue and urged all stakeholders to act swiftly to prevent further disruption to learning.

“The Ministry deeply values the unwavering commitment of Nigerian teachers, who remain the backbone of our foundational education system,” Dr. Alausa said, stressing that while the Ministry does not directly administer FCT primary schools, it is committed to protecting the welfare and dignity of teachers nationwide.

He confirmed that the Ministry is working closely with the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to engage the relevant Area Council chairmen toward a peaceful resolution.

The Minister emphasized the need for unity, transparency, and shared responsibility in resolving the dispute, especially under the ongoing education reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“These national reforms—spanning infrastructure, digital learning, curriculum modernization, and teacher development—must be matched by fairness and equity in how we treat our educators,” he added.