Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday condemned the insensitivity displayed by Chairmen of FCT Area Councils towards teachers, particularly on the issue of non-payment of salaries.
Reacting to the protest by the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Wike confirmed that he had already approved funds to be disbursed to the councils for the payment of teachers, but some chairmen failed to act, despite receiving the necessary support from the FCT Administration.
“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.
Wike, visibly angered by the development, criticized the area council Chairmen for what he described as a demonstration of a lack of conscience and compassion to the plight of the teachers.
“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 fumed.
He stressed that primary school teachers fall under the jurisdiction of the Area Councils and not the FCT Administration, reiterating that the responsibility to pay them lies squarely on the shoulders of the council 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.
The Minister appealed to the NUT to allow a little more time for the FCTA to intervene decisively in resolving the crisis.
“I also continue to appeal to the NUT to give them some time,” he pleaded.
The teachers’ strike, which has triggered protests across parts of the FCT, has disrupted learning in several primary schools and drawn concern from parents and civil society groups. The NUT had earlier warned that failure to pay arrears would lead to a prolonged industrial action.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Mohammed Abdullah Shafa, during a joint protest to the office of the FCT Minister to press home their demands accused the six Area Council Chairmen in the territory of diverting the N4.1 billion released by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.
Speaking during a protest at the FCTA Secretariat gate on Thursday, Shafa said the chairmen have consistently failed to honour agreements with the union, despite multiple timelines and interventions.
