By Atoyebi Nike
The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), FCT Area Unit, has voiced deep concern over the continued strike by teachers employed under the Local Education Authority (LEA), urging immediate intervention from both political and community leaders.
The strike, which began in March, has disrupted learning for over 300,000 students in public primary schools across the Federal Capital Territory. The teachers are demanding the payment of outstanding arrears and allowances, which they say have remained unresolved for several months.
In a public statement signed by the Area Unit Amir, Barrister Adam Ahmad Adam, the MSSN described the situation as an unfolding educational emergency that requires urgent attention. The group stressed that education is a foundational pillar for national progress and warned that the prolonged shutdown of schools could have long-term negative consequences for the country’s development.
“The neglect of teachers’ welfare reflects a troubling indifference to public education,” said Adam, calling for all stakeholders to urgently address the underlying issues.
The MSSN expressed concern that many government officials appear disengaged from the crisis, possibly because their own children attend private institutions. The society also questioned why elected leaders, many of whom are indigenes of the affected communities, have not acted more decisively to end the impasse.
“It raises serious questions about accountability and leadership when local officials fail to act on matters directly impacting their own people,” the statement read.
The student body urged residents across the FCT to hold their leaders accountable and to demand urgent resolutions. It also appealed to traditional rulers and education authorities to play more proactive roles in resolving the dispute and restoring normalcy to the academic calendar.
The MSSN’s call comes amid growing concern from parents, civil society organizations, and education advocates who fear the extended closure could widen inequality between public and private school students in the capital.
“Enough is enough,” the group declared, calling for a united front to safeguard children’s right to education.
The society emphasized that resolving the strike is a shared responsibility and urged both government institutions and community leaders to collaborate on a lasting solution.
