Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, unveiled the significance of education when he said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

“Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine, and that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation.”

It is unfortunate that children in public schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, are not in school because of the leaders’ insensitivity.

The primary school teachers in Abuja have been on strike since March 24, 2025, and that was after a previous strike was suspended.

This latest strike was triggered by the non-implementation of the new minimum wage and other outstanding demands. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) directed all primary school teachers in the six FCT Area Councils to resume the strike until their demands were met.

Teachers in the primary schools of the six area councils insisted they would not call off the strike over the non-implementation of the N70,000 new minimum wage by the councils’ chairmen.

This unfortunate impasse has led to schools abandoning the second term examinations, and teachers are insisting they will not go back unless the money hits their accounts.

This is even after the reported approval of N4 billion by Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, for the payment of the new minimum wage to the affected workers.

However, questions seeking answers are: why has Wike refused to call the chairmen to order if he released the said money? Why is President Bola Tinubu playing ignorant of this ugly development, or is that part of his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda, or could it be that the money is being kept for the 2027 election?

The ‘Animal Farm’ scenario, where all animals are equal, and some are more equal than others, adopted by the government, must stop. The president appointed the FCT minister and has been feeding him fat at the detriment of the people.

The socioeconomic strength of every country is believed to rise and fall with its education. Education, no doubt, sets people free from structural oppression and fosters social cohesion and the development of a collective identity necessary for a visionary future.

Nigeria is struggling to develop its economy simply because those trusted with governance have refused to provide the citizens with quality education, and that is obviously what is happening in Abuja.

Unfortunately, Nigeria is now being ruled by such insensitive leaders, who would ship their children abroad for quality education but rob indigent children of learning.

It is highly appalling that Nigeria has its education stakeholders downing tools over salary arrears. A fact remains: demoralised teachers are clogs to learning, even when children are eager to learn.

Education remains one of the pillars of the development of any nation, and when teachers are not properly compensated, not to mention being owed for months, and then a strike becomes inevitable, it only shows that the government has zero interest in nurturing the future of Nigeria.

How does one reconcile that the FCT minister is busy awarding contracts for roads and bridges while schools are shut down? Who are the roads being constructed for, the unschooled?

Wike would have failed if he had failed to return the children to classrooms on time, no matter the number of flyovers constructed by his administration.

It is criminal for the president to behave as if the children in Abuja are not part of his responsibilities. This attitude clearly unveils where the priority of the government lies.

Currently, Nigeria has over 18.3 million children who are not in school, even though primary education is said to be free.

Nigeria became independent in 1960, but Nigerians are still suppressed and oppressed by maladies such as corruption, tribalism, and mediocrity in governance, as experienced in Abuja today.

There is no justification for keeping the children out of school for 40 days if not for the leaders’ insensitivity. The teachers are not guiltless because downing tools is being insensitive to the children.

This way, Nigeria is breeding half-baked students, and poorly prepared graduates hurt a country’s workforce and economy.

The importance of basic education cannot be overemphasised. It empowers individuals with foundational skills and knowledge, enabling students to thrive personally and contribute to society.

Keeping these children at home when they are supposed to be in school is suicidal because it amounts to mutilating their future.

Nigeria should take a leaf from Seychelles, which prioritises education and took a radical approach to the development of its system.