• NANS plans mass demonstration against govt’s attitude to education
As the indefinite strike by primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) enters its 100th day, the Federal Government has appealed for dialogue, unity and swift resolution of the crisis.

This was as the Smallholder Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), yesterday, staged a protest in Abuja against rising hunger among their members. It accused the government of reducing food prices to punish its members.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans to stage a mass protest on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, over the continued closure of public primary schools in the FCT.

The Federal Ministry of Education, through its Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, stated, yesterday, that it deeply values the unwavering commitment of Nigerian teachers, who remain the backbone of the country’s foundational education system.

The Guardian reports that the industrial action, which commenced on March 24, 2025, paralysed learning across over 400 public primary schools in the six area councils of the FCT, leaving thousands of pupils stranded at home or unattended in dilapidated classrooms.

The ongoing strike was sparked by the failure of the area councils to implement the N70,000 minimum wage agreement signed in a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on December 11, 2024.

According to Boriowo, the ministry has reviewed with concern the communiqué issued by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Wing, following its Emergency State Wing Standing Committee (SWSC) meeting on March 22, 2025, in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

The statement reads: “While the administration of Local Education Authority (LEA) primary schools in the FCT falls under the purview of the six area councils and their respective LEAs, the Ministry of Education reaffirms its commitment to the welfare, dignity and professional development of teachers at all levels.”

In a notice signed by NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, the students’ body described the situation as ‘unacceptable’ and a grave injustice to the Nigerian child.

NANS expressed deep worry that thousands of children, especially those from low-income families, were being denied access to basic education for over two months due to the shutdown.

Oladoja directed student leaders to converge on FCDA Secretariat, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, in complete black attires for the protest.

Members of the FCT chapter of SWOFON were seen by The Guardian carrying placards and empty plates at the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

Some of the placards read: “We farm but our plates are empty”, “Declare state of emergency on insecurity that prevents us from going to our farms”, “Hungry women cannot feed the nation”, “Silent farmers, starving nation”, “Her hands grow food but her plates are bare, where is the justice” and “Without us, there is no food security”.

FCT Coordinator of SWOFON, Comfort Sunday, said they came out to protest because even as farmers, there was no food for them to feed their families.

“Despite the crash in food prices, we are still suffering, there is too much hunger. We have not received any farm input from the government. Though the inputs have been flagged off, we cannot still get it. If they give it to agro-dealers, we will be able to buy at a cheaper rate from them.

“We urge the government to release the farm inputs on time because crops are seasonal; when you don’t plant when others are farming, you will not be able to harvest much,” she stated.

The coordinator accused politicians of manipulating food prices. She said: “From my point of view, they crash food prices to punish the farmers because prices of inputs are still the same.”