The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has threatened to utilise 10% of internally generated revenue designated for area councils to pay striking primary school teachers in the FCT.
The minister made this statement on Thursday after reviewing the ongoing Apo-Karshi Road project.
Wike said he would not allow children to be affected by the strike, which has been ongoing for more than a week, and that no real government would tolerate it.
Recall that the teachers resumed their strike on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, following a 14-day ultimatum issued to Area Council Chairmen by the FCT Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers.
The teachers are requesting, among other things, the establishment of a 40% peculiar allowance and the payment of 25 months’ minimum wage arrears.
The minister further stated that he has invited the Chairmen of the Area Councils and the FCT NUT leadership to discuss the matter.
“I’ve invited the Area Council Chairmen and the NUT to let us sit down. These are the things we talk about. We try to do what we can to see that the system is moving well. It is unfortunate, as I told the Area Council Chairmen, that the teachers are on strike.”
“And that will mean that if the teachers are not paid, then I will use the 10% IGR, which nobody has paid to them, to pay the teachers. I will not fold my arms and allow that to happen. No serious government will allow their teachers to stay at home while the children are suffering; I will not tolerate that,” he said.
Speaking on the Apo-Karshi project, Wike stated that the contractor, Messrs Khakatar Limited, had offered assurances of completing the project by April 2025 and that he had chosen to give the contractor the benefit of the doubt.
“I still have my doubts, but they are insisting that by April, they will have completed this project. It’s a project very dear to us; we know the importance of this road. So many people are eager to see that this project is completed on time so that it will ease a lot of traffic and also boost the economic activities of this area. Let us give them the benefit of the doubt,” Wike stated.
