FCT teachers strike: War against systematic impunity

It was Wole Soyinka, Nigeria’s Nobel Prize winner, who once said, “When a leader encourages the culture of impunity, the society is lost and it makes the work harder for the rest of us.”

Going by Soyinka’s philosophy, without justice, the most heinous crimes go unpunished; victims are unable to obtain redress, and peace remains an elusive goal, since impunity generates more hatred, which leads to acts of revenge and more suffering.

There is no better way to describe the scenario where children were forced out of school for over 60 days, by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, council chairmen’s failure to pay teachers their entitlement, than impunity.

Those trusted with leadership powers in Abuja decided to subject children in public schools into intellectual bankruptcy, while their children are private schools and for the teachers, the council chairmen careless if they are paid, hence declaring impunity war, by oppressing the vulnerable under their care.

According to Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

“It is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine; that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation.”

It is no longer news that primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja have been on strike repeatedly, pushing the limits of endurance in pursuit of their rights: the right to a decent wage.

For far too long, our Local Education Authority (LEA) teachers in Abuja have been battered, bruised, and betrayed by a system that refuses to reward their selfless service.

Many well-meaning Nigerians, such as David Naphtali, a concerned original inhabitant at FCT, have lent their voices for the government to address the disarray in the Abuja council education ecosystem.

Naphtali urges President Bola Tinubu to do everything possible not to allow the crisis fester further.

“Abuja is your seat of power. If justice is broken here, the rest of the nation will learn to normalise injustice. Your intervention facilitated the April salary implementation. Now we ask for more, not as a favour but as a matter of equity,” he said, instructing that a special intervention committee be set in place to reconcile and settle all outstanding arrears across area councils.

“This is no longer just a strike. It is a symptom of systemic failure. We cannot afford another academic year ruined. We cannot afford another healthcare crisis. We cannot afford another round of avoidable hardship for those who serve us at the lowest levels.

We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for justice. We are asking for dignity. We are asking that you, our leaders, act with urgency, compassion, and commitment,” he added.

It is expected that the authorities will address the demands of the aggrieved workers which among others include that the N70,000 minimum wage arrears for eight months amounting to over N16 billion, 40 percent peculiar allowance implementation, and 25 percent, and 35 percent salary increase implementation, and arrears.

Others are N35,000 wage award for six months, annual increments, promotion arrears, upgrade of teachers underemployed since 2018 and health insurance scheme for teachers among others.

It is expedient that the area council chairmen address these issues and other entitlements owed to teachers because if proper care is not taken, strikes may resurface in no distant time disrupting the teaching and learning process again.

A fact remains that education is considered the best legacy a government can leave because it empowers individuals, fosters economic growth, and strengthens society.

More importantly, experts believe early childhood education lays the groundwork for future learning; consequently, keeping these children at home further amounts to mutilating their future.

Nigerians must learn to arise against impunity in governance, just the way and manner the citizens rose against JAMB; without collective efforts, the leaders will continue to take the citizens for granted.

One would wonder why the minister of education is yet to utter a word against the injustice met on the children, teachers and Nigerians by these council chairmen.

It is good that Nysom Wike, minister of FCT has stepped in, but that is not enough until these children return to classrooms, and the teachers are happy doing their work.