I write to you today with a heavy heart concerning the ongoing strike by local government staff and Local Education Authority (LEA) staff, which has persisted for over a week now.
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge and appreciate your efforts in diligently discharging your responsibilities as the leaders of the various area councils. Your commitment has not gone unnoticed by the citizens of the FCT.
However, it is with great concern that I bring to your attention the plight of teachers at the LEA in FCT. They have been on strike for over a week due to a number of unresolved issues, such as the non-implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and its arrears, non-payment of 25 months arrears of the 2019 new national minimum wage, non-implementation of the 2022 promotion, non-payment of 2021 promotion arrears, and non-implementation of the 2023 annual increment.
This strike has left many young children without access to education, which poses a serious threat to the future of our society.
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Regrettably, it appears that no concrete efforts have been made to resolve this ongoing strike, leaving vulnerable children from less fortunate backgrounds confined to their homes. This situation is deeply concerning, especially considering the prevalence of various social vices in our communities today.
It is important to note that teachers are already being paid meagre salaries, which are far from sufficient to meet their basic needs and provide for their families. The current high cost of living in the country only exacerbates their difficult circumstances.
Furthermore, I must emphasize that the well-being of the masses should take precedence over any personal gains. Purchasing expensive cars and motorcycles for personal reasons using public funds while neglecting the needs of the citizens is both disheartening and distressing. This decision may have severe repercussions, including increasing the domestic hardship experienced by thousands of lives.
In conclusion, I implore all of you to come together and find a swift resolution to this situation in order to safeguard the future of our young people. Their education is of utmost importance and should not be compromised any longer.
I kindly request that you prioritize these matters and address them promptly.
Aminu Ahmed Mamagi, Abaji Area Council, FCT Abuja
