The FCT Wing of the Nigeria Union Teachers (NUT) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the six area council chairmen in the territory to pay the remaining 60 per cent of the 25 months' national minimum wage arrears of primary school teachers.

The union, in a communique signed by the state Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Tashas, and Comrade Margaret F. Jethro (secretary), expressed dismay over the failure of the chairmen to pay the 60 per cent despite the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, fulfilling his own part in paying 40 per cent of the arrears.

They also expressed displeasure over the non-implementation/payment of the teachers' 40 per cent peculiar allowance, as well as non-implementation/payment of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increase for the teachers.

The union further demanded the determination of the fate of the teachers as regards the implementation of the N70,000 new minimum wage that was signed into law by the federal government.

The communique reads in part: "The SWEC-In Session also noted concern the disparity in salaries of primary school teachers in the FCT and other workers in the FCT which is due to non-implementation of items 1 to 3 above despite the clarification by the office of the National Incomes, Salaries And Wages Commission (NISWC) on the eligibility of the FCT primary school teachers to enjoy same.

"It is on this premise that the SWEC has resolved to issue a 14-day ultimatum from Monday, September 2, 2024, to Sunday, September 15, 2024, to the six area council chairmen to settle the aforementioned entitlements of the primary school teachers. And failure to respond positively to the above stated demands within the stipulated time, the union will have no other option than to resume the suspended strike action."

The Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chiya, who is the FCT ALGON chairman, did not pick calls or reply to a text message for his reaction on the NUT ultimatum.