Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has stated that Area Councils will not receive 10% of their statutory allocation since they have not put the new minimum salary for primary school teachers into effect, causing them to go on strike. On Monday, May 12, Wike revealed the information in a press statement released by the FCT Administration.
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In a statement, the Minister conveyed his regret over the persistence of the teachers’ strike, which has disrupted academic activity throughout the territory, despite his involvement and direction to provide funding to the councils.
The Minister expressed his dismay at the ongoing strike and said he had spoken to the council chairmen before it began to find out why they couldn’t pay the new minimum wage. He also said he had ordered money to be released to them so they could pay it.
They were elected, so I can’t just fire them. For that reason, I have decided to withhold 10% of their IGR,” the minister continued.
Wike has announced the formation of a committee to handle the issue, and its purpose is to direct any cash provided by the FCT Administration to the impacted teachers without going via the Area Councils.
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The Minister also revealed FCT Administration plans to celebrate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s second anniversary; however, no other information on the festivities was provided.
Protesting the Area Councils’ refusal to pay the new minimum wage, primary school teachers affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) have been on strike for several weeks. The union is adamant that its members will not be paid in full until the strike is ended.