News
Teachers’ Pay Dispute Shuts Abuja Schools For Months
Affecting more than 400 schools in Abuja, the prolonged closure has left over 50,000 pupils without lessons, according to the teachers’ union, in a country where more than 20 million children are already out of school.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the capital says it will not call off its strike until the 70,000 naira ($45) national minimum wage is implemented and outstanding salaries and entitlements are settled.
President Bola Tinubu signed the new wage into law in July 2024, more than doubling the west African country’s previous minimum wage of 30,000 naira.
The move was meant to soften the effects of rampant inflation that has followed the government’s economic reforms over the past two years. Yet implementation has lagged nationwide as local governments have been left to institute the wage hikes.
“We went on two warning strikes and we are currently on the third,” union leader Abdullahi Mohammed Shafas told AFP. “Despite arguments and promises, the government has not been able to fulfil any till now.”
Critics have blamed Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, which includes Abuja, for the impasse.
Wike says he has approved the new wages, accusing the local government councils of failing to pay.
‘Sitting at home’
Elisha Goni, a teacher at a public elementary school in Abuja’s Garki neighbourhood, said he hardly scrapes by on his 120,000 naira salary — which would also be bumped up if the new minimum wage is applied.
“I can barely cater for myself, not to talk of my family, from the little I am earning,” said Goni who lives 50 kilometres (30 miles) from his workplace to evade the expensive rent in the city centre. “Teachers cannot be lecturing on empty stomachs.”
At a Local Education Authority (LEA) primary school, the gate creaks in the wind as an AFP reporter entered while a security guard dozed off in his wooden chair — his new routine since the classrooms went quiet early this year.
“I used to be busy controlling students from roaming around the gate, helping teachers, watching the kids,” the 54-year-old, who gave his name as Abdu, said.
For many pupils, the disruption means more than boredom.
Blessing, 10, should have been preparing for her final exam to enter junior secondary school.
But instead she sat under the scorching sun, scooping ground chillies into small plastic bags at her mother’s roadside milling shop.
Her mother Mary, who only gave her first name, said she was considering enrolling Blessing in a nearby private school, “even though it is poorly rated”.
“At least she won’t just be sitting at home,” Mary muttered, her eyes fixed on the busy roadside.
Nigerian television footage has shown small protests by placard-waving pupils in uniform, chanting that they want to return to school.
One of the placards read: “You call us leaders of tomorrow while stopping our school for nine weeks.”
The strike comes as a further blow to an already creaky education system that sees millions of children fail to attend regularly, while adults contend with Nigeria’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
France24.com
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Naija News reports that Justice had earlier convicted Kanu on all seven counts levelled against him by the Federal Government.
The judge sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment for count 1, 2, 4,5, and 6.
He also sentenced Kanu to 20 years forcount 3 without option of fine.
The Judge sentenced Kanu to five years in prison on count seven without option of fine.
Justice Omotosho ruled that he should not be kept in Kuje prison. He forfeited Nnamdi Kanu’s radio transmitter and barred him from access to social media.
More are still coming
The Federal Government has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to impose the death sentence on the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, following his conviction on all seven terrorism counts.
The request was made on Thursday by the FG’s lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), shortly after Justice James Omotosho found Kanu guilty of all charges preferred against him.
Awomolo, addressing the court after the verdict, argued that the severity of Kanu’s actions merited the maximum penalty under the law.
The senior lawyer insisted that Kanu committed “many illegalities” and should not be treated with leniency.
Awomolo further reminded the court that four of the seven counts on which Kanu was convicted carry the death sentence under Nigeria’s terrorism laws.
He urged Justice Omotosho to take this into account in determining the appropriate punishment.
“It will not be considered justice that he is isolated and punished lightly in a country where we have Boko Haram, ISWAP, Lakurawa, et cetera,” he argued.
According to the prosecution, Kanu’s actions were as destabilising as those of other violent groups and should be treated with equal seriousness.
Awomolo also urged the judge to ensure that Kanu is kept in a secure correctional facility pending the court’s final pronouncement on sentencing.
He stressed the need to prevent any disruptions or security breaches involving the IPOB leader while the sentencing process is underway.
Kanu was earlier found guilty of inciting violence, ordering attacks on security personnel, calling for killings, and issuing threats capable of terrorising the public, all captured in broadcasts tendered as evidence by the prosecution.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has delivered his ruling in the case between the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and the Federal Government.
Naija News reports that the judgement was given in Nnamdi Kanu’s absence after the judge had ordered security operatives to kick him out of the court over his unruly behaviour.
Nnamdi Kanu had earlier stated that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja does not have the jurisdiction to try him.
The separatist, who has been in custody since 2021, faced seven terrorism-related charges bordering on alleged incitement, running an unlawful group, and acts threatening national security.
The IPOB leader contended that the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, under which he is being prosecuted, has been repealed.
He urged the court to strike out the charges, describing them as “disclosing no offence known to law” and therefore invalid.
Kanu also requested that the court nullify the “purported plea of not guilty” entered on his behalf, claiming it was obtained through deception and contrary to a Supreme Court ruling.
He further asked the court to set aside all subsequent proceedings and order his immediate release.
“My contention is very simple: this court lacks jurisdiction to try me,” he said.
Delivering ruling on Thursday, Justice Omotosho ruled that the court has the authority to preside over the Nnamdi Kanu case.
The judge also stated that the matter of extradition has been settled by the Supreme Court, and he ruled against Kanu in this regard.
On the issue of fairness in the hearing for Nnmadi Kanu, Omotosho ruled against the IPOB leader, stating that the court ensured he received a fair hearing.
On the defendant not entering his defence, Justice Omotosho said: “I begged the defendant passionately to enter his defence, but he remained obsolete. That shows that he chose to rest his case on the prosecution. Which is a gamble and a risky action.”
The court found Nnamdi Kanu guilty and convicted him of count 1 in the charges filed against him by the federal government.
The Judge said: “The court will rely on the uncontroverted evidence of the prosecution. This court, therefore, finds that the prosecution has discharged Count 1 beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, the defendant (Kanu) is hereby convicted in respect of Count 1.”
More judgement is being read and this report will be updated as it comes in…….
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