Activist Aisha Yesufu has raised alarm over the ongoing teachers’ strike in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), calling on Minister Nyesom Wike to take immediate action to avert a looming crisis in basic education.
The strike, declared by the Nigeria Union of Teachers, commenced indefinitely on Monday, April 20, 2026, following unresolved welfare concerns and the failure to implement a committee report submitted as far back as August 2025.
In a statement shared via her X (formerly Twitter) handle, Yesufu described the situation as avoidable, insisting that teachers are often forced into industrial action after prolonged neglect.
“Enough is enough. When teachers lay down their tools, it is never because they want to—it is because they have been pushed to the wall,” she said.
She warned that the strike’s impact would be felt most by schoolchildren rather than government authorities, stressing that disruptions to learning could have long-term consequences.
“When classrooms are shut, it is not government officials who feel it first—it is the child in Primary 1 learning to read, the girl dreaming of becoming a doctor, and the boy relying on education as his escape from poverty,” she added.
Yesufu cited reports from the union indicating that a committee set up in July 2025 to address teachers’ entitlements had completed its work and submitted recommendations in August, yet the report remains neither released nor implemented.
She further highlighted unresolved entitlements and promotion delays as key triggers of the industrial action, describing the bureaucratic bottlenecks as unjustifiable in a system that claims to prioritise education.
Directly addressing the FCT minister, she urged decisive leadership to prevent a complete shutdown of schools.
“Leadership is not about silence when systems are breaking. It is about stepping in before collapse becomes reality,” Yesufu stated.
She called for the immediate release and implementation of the committee’s report, resolution of outstanding entitlements, and reforms to address promotion delays.
The union had earlier directed teachers across the six area councils of the FCT to withdraw their services following an emergency meeting in Gwagwalada, maintaining that the strike would continue until their demands are met.
While the FCT Administration has made partial interventions—including implementing the N70,000 minimum wage and settling some arrears—lingering grievances over welfare and career progression continue to fuel tensions.
Yesufu warned that prolonged inaction could further weaken confidence in public education.
“What is the value of governance if the classroom is empty? What is the meaning of authority if children are the ones paying the price for unresolved delays?” she queried.
She concluded with a stark warning: “Act now, before classrooms go silent.”
