The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has sharply criticised Area Council Chairmen for their continued failure to implement the new salary structure for primary school teachers, a neglect that has sparked an ongoing teachers’ strike across the six area councils of the FCT.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the Minister confirmed that he had already authorised the release of funds to the Area Council Chairmen specifically for the payment of teachers. Despite this, the funds were not utilised for their intended purpose.
“I approved money to be sent to them so they could pay the teachers. I got a report just yesterday that they’ve failed to do that. I have now summoned all of them,” the minister said.
Visibly frustrated, Mr Wike condemned the Chairmen for their apparent indifference and lack of empathy towards the struggles of the teaching workforce.
“These are people who take care of our children, and you’re happy not paying them salaries. I don’t understand how people can sleep well knowing they’ve abandoned those responsible for educating the next generation,” he said.
Emphasising that the responsibility for primary school teachers falls under the purview of the Area Councils, not the FCT Administration, the Minister made it clear that the blame lies solely with local leadership.
“This is the problem we have in this country. When you apply the big stick, people start shouting. But we must act. I have summoned them to a meeting, and this can’t be swept under the carpet,” Wike said.
He appealed to the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to allow a little more time for the FCT Administration to address the situation effectively.
“I also continue to appeal to the NUT to give them some time,” he pleaded.
The strike, which has led to protests across the FCT, has severely disrupted academic activities in several primary schools and raised alarms among parents and civil society organisations. The NUT had previously warned that failure to settle outstanding salary arrears would result in prolonged industrial action.
Mr Wike’s stern response has been interpreted as a strong move towards promoting accountability at the grassroots level, in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
During a protest held at the FCTA Secretariat gate on Thursday, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Mohammed Shafa, accused the six Area Council Chairmen of diverting the ₦4.1 billion released by the Minister for the implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage.
Mr Shafa stated that the Chairmen had repeatedly failed to uphold their commitments to the union, even after several discussions and deadlines.
“They didn’t. Then they said February. Again, nothing happened. After that, we approached the Honourable Minister, who intervened and released N4.1 billion. Unfortunately, the chairmen ran away with the money, claiming it was meant for projects and ecological intervention. Those are lies,” Shafa lamented.
He explained that the peaceful demonstration was not just an expression of frustration but a formal notification to the Minister that his intervention had been undermined by the Area Council Chairmen.
“The help the minister gave to FCT teachers and council workers has not been implemented. That’s why we are here. Despite other challenges, the wage issue remains the union’s top priority,” he said.
Mr Shafa further noted that members of the NUT and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) were acting under instructions from the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to avoid any closed-door discussions.
“We told them to come out and speak directly to the workers at the gate not behind closed doors. This is a struggle for justice,” he concluded.