In the face of the prevailing crisis faced by the primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, teachers are calling on the national legislators to effect an amendment on who takes responsibility of primary education in Nigeria.
A forum of primary school teachers in Abuja has requested the intervention of the lawmakers by transferring the responsibility for primary education from area councils to a different agency, which they said resonates with the frustrations expressed by many educators in Nigeria, including the FCT.
The primary school teachers in FCT have been on strike over the local area councils’ failure to pay more than N16 billion arrears and entitlement owed to the educators.
Isaac Ityav, FCT LEA teachers’ forum’s spokesman, explained the reason for the suggestion thus: jurisdictional ambiguity and buck-passing, which he said makes it difficult to really hold the local authorities responsible.
Read also: Teachers stuck in analogue mode hinder digital education drive
“While primary education is fundamentally a local government responsibility in Nigeria, the unique status of the FCT, which functions as a state, creates a grey area.
“The area councils in the FCT have been primarily responsible for LEA primary school funding and teacher welfare, but they frequently claim inability to pay, citing insufficient funds or other priorities,” he said.
Besides, Ityav stressed that this ambiguity and lack of consistent funding have led to recurrent and prolonged strikes by primary school teachers in the FCT.
“These strikes disrupt learning, negatively impact pupils, and create immense hardship for teachers who are owed entitlements, allowances, and promotion arrears,” he noted.
Furthermore, the teachers decried the fact that even when the FCT administration (FCTA) had released funds to area councils for teachers’ entitlements, there have been accusations that these funds were not used for their intended purpose, further exacerbating the problem.
Beyond salaries, the teachers emphasised that many FCT primary schools are suffering from dilapidated buildings, overcrowded classrooms, a lack of basic amenities, and inadequate resources, indicating a systemic failure in the current funding and management structure.
Read also: 12 teachers awarded N2.4m grants at GETAP’s second cohort
Why is the change being advocated?
The concerned stakeholders said the FCT’s unique status is a concern because, unlike other states, it has the national assembly acting as its legislative body.
“This unique arrangement means the National Assembly has the direct power to enact legislation that could redefine the administrative and financial structure of primary education in the FCT,” they say.
The teachers insist that a structural change, such as taking responsibility away from entities that have consistently failed, is the only way to ensure accountability and consistent funding.
“The continuous disruptions and poor conditions in FCT primary schools undermine the right to quality education for thousands of children. A more stable and well-funded system is crucial for improving learning outcomes,” the teachers emphasised.
Worst still, they highlighted that even Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, has openly criticised the area council chairmen and has taken steps like withholding 10 percent of their statutory allocation to force them to pay teachers.
This, they say, demonstrates the high-level frustration with the current arrangement and suggests receptiveness to fundamental change.
Read also: Why Abuja teachers must escape from FCTA’s economic prison
The call for National Assembly intervention
Ityav said the teachers’ strong suggestion for the National Assembly to “quickly run an amendment to remove FCT primary schools from the area council to a different agency” aligns with the growing sentiment that a legislative solution is necessary.
“Shift the direct funding responsibility for LEA primary schools in the FCT to a dedicated FCT-level agency, for instance, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), with greater autonomy and direct funding from the FCT Statutory Revenue Fund.
“Define clear lines of authority and accountability for the management of primary schools and the welfare of teachers, ensuring that funds are disbursed and utilised appropriately,” he said.
To ensure the timely payment of teachers’ entitlements, he advocates that the National Assembly should create a mechanism that guarantees the timely payment of teachers’ salaries, allowances, and promotion arrears, removing the reliance on area councils that have repeatedly failed to deliver.
“While the autonomy of local governments is often cited as a reason for the current structure, the consistent failure of FCT area councils to adequately fund primary education and pay teachers has made a compelling case for a special intervention by the National Assembly to safeguard the future of education in the nation’s capital,” he noted.
