Dare Babalola
Activist Aisha Yesufu has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to urgently intervene in the growing crisis threatening public education in Abuja, warning that schools could soon shut down if decisive action is not taken.
In a post on X on Monday, Yesufu said the situation in the FCT education sector had reached a breaking point, with teachers reportedly considering a strike over unresolved issues.
“Enough is enough. When teachers lay down their tools, it is never because they want to. It is because they have been pushed to the wall,” she said.
Her appeal follows concerns raised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers in the FCT, where educators have warned they may withdraw their services from April 20, 2026, citing unmet demands.
Yesufu specifically urged Wike to demonstrate leadership by stepping in before the situation deteriorates further.
“Mr Nyesom Wike, leadership is not about silence when systems are breaking. Leadership is about stepping in before collapse becomes reality,” she said.
She highlighted that a committee report addressing the teachers’ concerns has remained unimplemented since August 2025, despite its importance to resolving lingering disputes.
“The reports coming from the FCT Nigeria Union of Teachers are deeply troubling. Teachers are saying there is a committee report that was concluded since August 2025, yet it has not been released or implemented,” she stated.
Beyond the report, Yesufu pointed to unresolved entitlements and stalled promotions, blaming bureaucratic bottlenecks for worsening tensions within the sector.
“They are saying entitlements remain unresolved. They are saying promotions are being trapped in bureaucracy that makes no sense in a system that claims to value education,” she added.
She warned that any disruption in schooling would hit students the hardest, particularly young children and those relying on education as a pathway out of poverty.
“Let it be clear. When classrooms are shut, it is not government officials who feel it first. It is the child in Primary 1 trying to learn how to read,” she said.
Calling for immediate steps, Yesufu urged the FCT administration to release and implement the pending report, settle outstanding entitlements, and fix promotion delays to avert another industrial crisis.
“Release the report. Implement what has been agreed. Fix the promotion bottlenecks. End the cycle of avoidable industrial crises that always end with the child as the victim,” she said.
She stressed that the responsibility lies squarely with leadership to prevent a shutdown, warning that continued inaction could have lasting consequences.
“Education is not a privilege for negotiation. It is a right that must be protected with urgency,” Yesufu said, adding, “Act now, before classrooms go silent.”
