Wike Summons FCT Council Chairmen, NUT Over Teachers’ Strike

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has summoned the six Area Council Chairmen and the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT chapter, for a meeting over the prolonged strike by primary school teachers.

The minister called the meeting after a protest on Thursday (today) by teachers, nurses, and other Area Council workers, demanding the implementation of a N70,000 minimum wage and reopening of over 270 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs).

The protest was backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and allied unions.

While addressing journalists, Wike expressed disappointment in the Area Council Chairmen and accused them of gross irresponsibility and mismanagement of funds.

According to the minister, the council chairmen failed to disburse funds specifically allocated for teachers’ salaries and welfare, despite receiving the sum of N4.1bn released by the FCT Administration for that purpose.

“They were unable to pay them. In fact, I got the report yesterday and have summoned all of them for a meeting. I don’t know why people don’t have a conscience. These are teachers who take care of our children, and you are happy that you are not paying them their salaries,” Wike said.

The Minister stressed that primary education falls under the statutory responsibility of the Area Councils, not the FCT Administration.

However, he assured the teachers that his administration would not look the other way while critical sectors like education and health continued to deteriorate under his watch.

“I appeal to the NUT to give us some time. We will resolve these issues. I assure you of that,” Wike added.

While responding to the Minister’s comment, the NUT Chairman, Abdullahi Shafa, acknowledged Wike’s efforts to mediate the crisis, particularly the release of funds.

However, he accused the Area Council Chairmen of misappropriating the funds and called on both the National Assembly and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and hold the council leaders accountable.

Shafa also reiterated the teachers’ core demands, which include the full payment of the N70,000 minimum wage, the 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance, the implementation of 25 and 35 per cent salary increases, and the N35,000 wage award promised by the federal government.

He said the ongoing strike has paralysed basic education across the six Area Councils of the FCT, which has left thousands of pupils out of school and worsened public discontent.

Labour unions had warned that if urgent steps were not taken to meet the workers’ demands, they would escalate actions, with the NLC threatening a territory-wide shutdown.

Wike Summons FCT Council Chairmen, NUT Over Teachers’ Strike is first published on The Whistler Newspaper