The Chairman of the Confederation of the Parents Teachers Association (CPTA), Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chapter, Mallam Tanko S. Bello, has called on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike to introduce a sustainable funding mechanism for primary education to end recurring teachers’ strikes.

Bello also urged the FCT administration to convene an emergency meeting involving labour unions, parent representatives and the chairmen of the six area councils to address teachers’ welfare and develop a lasting solution to the industrial disputes.

In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, he identified the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) as key participants in the proposed meeting.

He described the repeated strikes by primary and secondary school teachers as an annual embarrassment, arguing that Abuja, as the nation’s capital, should set an example by prioritising the welfare of teachers.

Bello said the prolonged disruption to schooling had left children out of classrooms for months, with some exposed to street hawking and other risks while pupils in private schools continued their education.

“Like last year, our children stayed at home for several months due to a similar strike. This year, history repeated itself again as our children were forced to roam about the streets, hawking, and being exposed to vices while their counterparts in private schools are in class learning,” the statement said.

He added that the repeated industrial action had disrupted the academic calendar and contributed to a decline in education quality, causing psychological distress for both parents and their children.

The CPTA chairman stressed that the education of children in the FCT must be treated as a priority and called on the administration to ensure teachers’ welfare receives adequate attention.

“We believe that the education of FCT children should not be toyed with because an idle mind is a devil workshop. And that is why the association is also advising the FCT administration to ensure teachers welfare is prioritized,” he added.

Source: Daily Trust