A civil society group, What About Us Movement, on Monday staged a peaceful protest in Abuja, demanding an immediate resolution to the ongoing strike by primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The protest, supported by ActionAid Nigeria, was held at the premises of Gofina LEA School, Zuba, and included pupils and members of the community.

Yusuf Shuaibu, leader of the Whhat About Us Movement, condemned the protracted industrial action that has crippled learning in public primary schools across the FCT for several weeks.

While acknowledging the legitimacy of the teachers’ demands—including the implementation of the new N70,000 minimum wage and payment of salary arrears—Shuaibu stressed that the children are the greatest victims of the impasse.

The coalition outlined the consequences of the strike, including disruption of learning, emotional distress among children, increased educational inequality, exposure to social risks, and economic strain on parents.

The group called on the FCT administration to urgently implement the minimum wage agreement and settle at least five months of outstanding salaries owed by Area Councils.

They also demanded the full operationalisation of the tripartite implementation committee chaired by the Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, and called for the transparent use of 50 per cent of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) at the Area Council level to fund salaries.

Additional demands included direct salary payments to teachers, with oversight from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) if necessary; regular public disclosure of payment status; clear timeline for school reopening.

The movement urged the FCT Administration to re-engage with the teachers’ union and respond promptly to official correspondence from labour organisations.

Addressing various stakeholders, the group appealed to LEA officials to prioritise the welfare of children in ongoing negotiations and called on the media to amplify the human impact of the strike.

“Education is not a privilege; it is a right,” said Shuaibu. “A society that neglects its teachers and abandons its students risks destroying its future.”

He urged all parties to urgently work toward reopening schools, adding, “When education is on strike, the future is on pause.”

A teacher at LEA Primary School, Abubakar Rimi, said they had been patient for over five months while waiting for Area Councils to implement the minimum wage, but that council chairmen continued to renege on their promises.

He appealed to Minister Nyesom Wike to intervene and prevail upon the council chairmen to pay the agreed wages so that pupils could return to school.

The women leader of the community also urged the FCT Administration to meet the teachers’ demands, warning that their children are already forgetting what they have learned.