War with Wike: Keep your Children safe at home, Abuja Teachers warn Parents, begin Strike on Monday

The State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has directed primary and secondary school teachers to begin an indefinite strike on Monday.

The union gave the directive in a communique issued at the end of an emergency SWEC meeting in Gwagwalada, Abuja..

The communique was jointly signed by the State Chairman, Abdullahi Shafa; the State Secretary, Margaret Jethro; and the State Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.

In the communique, made available to Journalists in Abuja, the union directed the teachers to comply with the directive and await further instructions.

It further advised parents to keep their children and wards in primary and secondary schools safe at home until further notice.

It said that the teachers would remain at home until all their demands are met.

The union explained that the decision was the outcome of the SWEC meeting, convened to review the seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on March 11, which expired on March 29.

It said that the SWEC appreciated Wike for the implementation of the N70,000 Minimum Wage and payment of the nine months arrears to the primary school teachers in the FCT.

It, however, said that the Council noted with concern that the Minister’s intervention, which facilitated the suspension of the 14-week strike on July 9, 2025, was yet to be addressed.

“The Minister constituted a committee on July 7, 2025 with a mandate to, within two weeks, harmonise all outstanding entitlements of primary school teachers.

“The committee was also directed to make appropriate recommendations that would lead to a permanent solution to the frequent industrial disputes involving FCT Primary School Teachers.

“The committee concluded its assignment and submitted its report in August 2025, however, the report is yet to be made public,” it said.

The union explained that the seven-day ultimatum followed  the unexplained delay in the implementation of the committee’s report.

It added that the move also became necessary following the continued silence on the legitimate demands of teachers amid the prevailing harsh economic realities in the country, particularly in the FCT.

It explained that the Wike-led FCT Administration was asked to, within the seven-day ultimatum, release and implement the report of primary school teachers’ outstanding entitlements.

The union further called for the removal of the “vacancies” precondition for the promotion of classroom teachers and totally reviewed the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission to allow for the unhindered promotion of eligible teachers.

It said that the SWEC was disturbed that following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum on March 19, including the additional 28-day grace period granted to the authorities, there has been no tangible response to all the issues raised in the ultimatum.

“After exhaustive deliberations on the industrial issues and the silence on the legitimate demands of teachers’ welfare, the Council resolved that all public primary and secondary school teachers in the FCT shall, with effect from Monday, proceed on an indefinite strike until our demands are met,” the union said.

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Linking Kidnapping Victims to JAMB without evidence complicates Security - JAMB Registrar

Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has said that the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) recorded minimal challenges across the country.

Oloyede said this in Ibadan on Saturday at the University of Ibadan CBT centre during a routine monitoring visit to Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in Oyo State.

He described the exercise as largely successful, noting that only a few centres experienced issues, mainly related to power supply and minor technical faults.

“Like any human activity, there will be challenges, but they have been minimal.

“Out of about 980 centres nationwide, we have recorded issues in only about 16 centres,” he said.

The registrar added that despite initial concerns, the board had successfully conducted examinations for over 1.7 million candidates within three days.

He commended the smooth conduct of the examination process, describing it as “superb,” and praised the collaboration of stakeholders, including vice-chancellors, rectors and other academic officials serving as proctors.

On reports of candidates allegedly being kidnapped, Oloyede cautioned against misinformation, saying such claims were often not properly verified.

“It is unfortunate that people were kidnapped, but linking them directly to JAMB without evidence complicates security efforts.

“The focus should be on ensuring their safe return,” he said.

Addressing public concerns over early arrival times for candidates, the registrar clarified that examinations do not start at 6:30 a.m., but candidates are required to arrive early for accreditation.

Oloyede explained that the board had adjusted the examination schedule from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in response to feedbacks, though the change had led to longer waiting periods for some candidates.

He also criticised widespread misconceptions about the role of UTME in admissions, stressing that it is only one of the criteria, alongside O’Level requirements.

Oloyede warned candidates and parents against engaging with fraudsters offering “exam runs” or score manipulation.

According to him, JAMB has intensified efforts to track and prosecute such individuals, revealing that several suspects were already facing prosecution for exam malpractices.

He cited a case where a suspect, while in custody, continued to defraud unsuspecting parents by promising to upgrade candidates’ scores.

“We have our own mechanisms to detect such fraud. Those who attempt shortcuts will be identified and sanctioned,” the registrar said.

Oloyede urged the public to report fraudulent platforms on social media, while commending security agencies for their support in tackling examination malpractices.

He reaffirmed JAMB’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the examination process and ensuring credible admissions into tertiary institutions. 

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Tinubu Inks N68.32trn 2026 Budget, 2025 Capital Spending Extension

President Bola Tinubu has signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, authorising an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion for the current fiscal year.

The president also signed a bill extending the implementation period of the capital component of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30.

This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday in Abuja.

According to Onanuga, the 2026 budget provides N4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and N15.8 trillion for debt servicing obligations.

It also allocates N15.4 trillion to recurrent expenditure and N32.2 trillion to the Development Fund for capital projects.

With capital expenditure accounting for about 50 per cent of total spending, the budget reflects priority for infrastructure and productivity growth.

Onanuga said the fiscal plan underscored the administration’s commitment to economic stability, national security and inclusive development.

He added that the allocations balanced statutory obligations, debt servicing, recurrent spending and strategic investments.

Tinubu also assented to the Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, extending the lifespan of the 2025 capital vote.

The extension, according to the Presidency, will ensure full utilisation of appropriated funds for critical projects already at advanced stages nationwide.

It said that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) would use the extra period to consolidate ongoing works and improve project completion rates.

With the 2026 Appropriation Act taking effect from April 1, the Federal Government is expected to begin full implementation immediately.

Tinubu directed MDAs to ensure disciplined, transparent and efficient use of public resources, stressing  the need for value for money and timely delivery of projects across sectors.

The president commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for the speedy consideration and passage of the budget.

He reaffirmed the importance of sustained cooperation between the executive and legislative arms in advancing development goals.

Tinubu also assured Nigerians of continued fiscal reforms, stronger revenue generation and investments to create jobs and expand social protection.

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