Abuja: Some school children in Bwari Area Council of the FCT have appealed to striking teachers in the six-area councils to consider their plights and call off their two-month industrial action. The children made their appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while sharing their thoughts on the 2025 Children's Day.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in FCT initiated the strike in March due to the non-payment of the N70,000 minimum wage. Blessing Adamu, a 10-year-old primary four student at LEA 2, Primary School, Bwari, expressed that staying at home for more than two months without learning was a significant disruption to their academic programs. She urged the FCT administration and the teachers to resolve their differences and end the strike.
Jonah Mathias, another pupil, mentioned that he was becoming bored due to the prolonged strike, stating that he missed both physical and intellectual activities at school. He also pleaded with the FCT administration and the NUT to consider the adverse effects on their future and put an end to the strike.
Esther Bwaya, another child affected by the strike, described the situation as unfortunate, adding that they watched their peers in private schools attend classes daily, leaving them with a sense of abandonment by the government. She appealed to the government to address the issue as a special Children's Day gift to FCT children, emphasizing their desire to return to school.
Mrs. Raabi Sumaila, a mother of five, whose children are impacted by the strike, appealed to the FCT administration to end the strike to prevent further harm to the children. She highlighted that the strike affected not only public schools but also primary healthcare centers, bringing hardship to the community. She urged the FCT administration to resolve the strike, as the community continued to suffer, with children at home and limited access to healthcare services.
Mr. Danladi Chiya, Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in FCT, also appealed to the workers and union members to consider the children's hardships and call off the strike.