By Wumi Tewogbade ,Abuja

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) FCT Wing, at weekend said it has concluded arrangements to commence indefinite strike over non implementation of the N70, 000 Minimum Wage and the payment of nine months’ arrears to the primary school teachers in the Federal Capital territory (FCT).

In a communique issued by NUT FCT wing and signed by State Chairman, Com. Abdullah Shafa, State Secretary, Com. Margaret Jethro and State Publicity Secretary, Com. Ibukun Adekeye, after the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting in Abuja.

They commended the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike for his intervention on 11th March 2026, which expired on 19th March, 2026.

But they lamented that the Minister’s intervention, which facilitated the suspension of the fourteen-week strike by the primary school teachers on 9th July, 2025, is yet to be addressed.

They acknowledged that the Minister, in order to resolve the issue constituted a committee on the 7th July 2025 with a mandate to, within two weeks, harmonize all outstanding entitlements of Primary School Teachers and make appropriate recommendations that would lead to a permanent solution to the frequent industrial disputes involving FCT Primary School Teachers. committee concluded its assignment and submitted its report in August 2025, however, the report is yet to be made public.

According to the communique, the FCT teachers lamented that they don’t know the reason for the unexplained delay in the implementation of the committee’s report and the continued silence on the legitimate demands of teachers amid the prevailing harsh economic realities in the country, particularly in the FCT.

It would be recalled that SWEC, at its session on 11th March 2026, issued a seven day ultimatum within which to:
“Release and implement the report of Primary School teachers’ outstanding entitlements, Remove the “Vacancies” precondition for the promotion of classroom teachers and totally review the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission to allow for the unhindered promotion of eligible teachers”.

The teachers are concerned that following the expiration of the Seven-day ultimatum on 19th March 2026, including the additional twenty eight day grace period granted to the authorities to enable them to intensify efforts towards meeting the demands of teachers as requested, there has been no tangible response from the authorities to all the industrial issues raised in our ultimatum.

“After exhaustive deliberations on the industrial issues that necessitated the seven-day ultimatum, and considering that the silence on the legitimate demands of teachers’ welfare and a threat to the stability of education in the territory, the meeting resolved that all Public Primary and Secondary School Teachers in the FCT shall, with effect from Monday, 20th April 2026, proceed on an indefinite Strike until the demands of the Union are met.

“The Union hereby directs all Public Primary and Secondary School Teachers in the FCT to comply with this directive and await further instructions from the Union”, the communique noted.

They therefore advised Parents to keep their children and wards in Primary and Secondary Schools safe at home until further notice.

The management and staff of Press Icon Newspaper have condole former Chief Press Secretary to Benue State Governor, Hon Terver Akase on the demise of his beloved mother.

this is contained in a letter signed by the Editor-in-chief and publisher, Press Icon Newspaper, Wata Tachia, PhD

The letter addressed to Hon. Terver Akase, read, “The Editor-in-chief and Publisher, staff of Press Icon Newspaper, Abuja, extend our heartfelt condolences to you on the passing of your beloved mother, Mama Margaret Sena Akase.

“We cannot claim to understand the depth of your pain, for a mother’s love is indeed tender, unique and irreplaceable. We do, however, join you in mourning a matriarch whose life and values are evident in the man she has groomed you to become.

“At this moment of grief, may God console you and your family, and grant Mama eternal rest in His bosom, Amen.

the letter that passed through Felix Umande
Press Icon Office, Makurdi, Benue State prayed to God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

“Be assured of our sincere sympathy and prayers.”, the letter concluded.

By Wumi Tewogbade, Abuja

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the weekend, dismissed a misleading opinion and social media claims that the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, was invited to serve as “Royal Father of the Day” at the proposed foundation laying ceremony of the Ecumenical Chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

A statement issued by the Media Office of CAN in Abuja, said no invitation was extended to the Sultan.

“CAN’s intervention seeks to correct the narrative and steady public perception before it escalates.

“We state, firmly and without equivocation, that no such invitation was extended to the Sultan by CAN. This claim is false.

“For the record, the material in question was made public by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and not from CAN. At no point did CAN release any such invitation.

“Beyond its inaccuracy, the narrative appears deliberately framed to provoke religious sensitivities and manufacture controversy where none exists. At a time when national unity requires careful stewardship, such distortions are reckless and unacceptable.

“CAN remains unwavering in its dual commitment: to uphold the integrity of Christian faith and worship, and to promote peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among all Nigerians. These are not competing values; they are complementary responsibilities”.

The statement noted, “However, truth must never be sacrificed on the altar of sensationalism. The suggestion that the Sultan was assigned any role in the ceremonial proceedings is entirely unfounded and should be dismissed in its entirety.

“We therefore call on the media, opinion leaders, and the general public to act with responsibility: verify before amplifying, question before believing, and prioritise facts over virality.

“Let it be clearly and finally stated: the Sultan of Sokoto was not invited. The story in circulation is the handiwork of mischief makers and should be disregarded”.