The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, has summoned the chairmen of the six FCT area councils and the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, FCT Wing, to an emergency meeting aimed at resolving the prolonged primary school teachers’ strike.
The strike, which has disrupted academic activities in FCT primary schools, centres on unresolved welfare concerns and alleged non-payment of statutory entitlements.
Wike disclosed the move on Thursday in Abuja after inspecting several ongoing infrastructure projects earmarked for commissioning as part of activities to mark President Bola Tinubu’s second anniversary in office.
Reacting to the protest staged by striking teachers on Wednesday morning, the minister described the situation as “very unfortunate,” criticising the area council chairmen for allegedly failing to utilise funds released for the payment of teachers’ entitlements.
“They were unable to pay them. In fact, I got the report yesterday and have summoned all of them for a meeting,” Wike said.
“You see, that’s the problem we have in this country; by the time I apply the big stick, people will be saying all kinds of things.
“I don’t know why people don’t have conscience that these are teachers who take care of our children, and you are happy that you are not paying them their salaries,” he added.
Wike clarified that primary schools are the statutory responsibility of the area councils, not the FCT Administration, stressing that the chairmen were directly accountable for the welfare of primary school teachers.
He, however, appealed to the leadership of the NUT to exercise patience, assuring them that the grievances would soon be addressed.
Earlier, the FCT NUT Chairman, Mr Abdullahi Shafa, who led Wednesday’s protest, acknowledged Wike’s efforts to resolve the lingering strike. He referenced the minister’s release of N4.1 billion to the area councils to settle outstanding payments owed to teachers.
Shafa accused the area council chairmen of diverting the funds meant for teacher salaries and called for immediate intervention from the National Assembly and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to hold the chairmen accountable.
Primary school teachers in the FCT have repeatedly embarked on strike actions over the non-payment of the national minimum wage and the 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance.
Other unresolved demands include the implementation of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increments, and the payment of the N35,000 wage award, among other entitlements.
