Nyesom Wike, the Minister overseeing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has suggested the possibility of diverting ten per cent of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) intended for Area Councils to support striking primary school teachers in the FCT.
This proposal was made during his recent visit to inspect the Apo-Karshi Road construction project on Thursday.
Wike emphasized his determination to prevent disruptions to children’s education caused by the ongoing teachers’ strike, which has been in effect for over a week. “A responsible government cannot allow this to occur,” he remarked, clearly opposing the strike.
The teachers reignited their strike action on September 18, 2024, after issuing a 14-day ultimatum to the Area Council Chairmen through the FCT branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers. Their key demands include the implementation of a 40% Peculiar Allowance and the resolution of 25 months of Minimum Wage arrears.
In a related development, Wike mentioned that he had organized discussions with the Area Council Chairmen and representatives from the FCT NUT to tackle these pressing issues.
“I’ve brought together the Area Council Chairmen and the NUT for a meeting. We need to discuss these matters openly. We strive to ensure that the system operates effectively. It’s unfortunate, as I conveyed to the Area Council Chairmen, that we find ourselves in this situation with the teachers on strike,” he explained.
He further commented on the ramifications of the strike, stating, “If the teachers remain unpaid, I will allocate the 10% of IGR that has not been distributed to them for their salaries. I refuse to stand idly by while this situation persists. A serious government cannot allow teachers to be sidelined while our children suffer; I will not accept that.”
On the topic of the Apo-Karshi Road project, Wike noted that the contractor, Messrs Khakatar Limited, has assured him that the project will be completed by April 2025. Although he expresses some doubts, he has opted to give the contractor the benefit of the doubt for now.
