By Daniel Tyokua
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has threatened to channel ten per cent of Internally Generated Revenue meant for the Area Councils to pay striking Primary School teachers in the territory.
He stated this while addressing journalists after inspecting the ongoing Apo-Karshi Road project on Thursday.
Wike said he would not allow children to be affected by the strike which has gone on for over a week, saying no serious government would allow it.
Recall that the teachers had resumed their strike on Wednesday, 18th September 2024, following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum previously issued to the Area Council Chairmen by the FCT Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).
The teachers are demanding among others, the implementation of 40% Peculiar Allowance, and payment of 25 months Minimum Wage Arrears.
The Minister added that he had invited the Chairmen of the Area Council and the FCT NUT leadership to discuss the issue.
“I’ve invited the Area Council Chairmen and then I’ve invited the NUT, and let’s sit down. These are the things we talk about. We try to do what we can do in order to see that the system is moving well. It is unfortunate, which I told the Area Council Chairmen, that the teachers are on strike”.
“And that will mean that if the teachers are not paid, then I will use the 10% IGR, which nobody paid to them, to pay the teachers. I will not fold my arms and allow that to happen. No serious government will allow their teachers to stay at home while the children are suffering, I will not tolerate that”, he said.
Speaking on the Apo-Karshi project, the Minister said the contractor, Messrs Kakatar Limited, had given assurances of completing the project in April, 2025, noting that he had opted to give the contractor the benefit of the doubt.
“I still have my doubt, but they are still insisting that by April, they would have completed this project. It’s a project very dear to us, we know the importance of this road. So many people are eager to see that this project is completed on time, so that it will ease off a lot of traffic and also will boost the economic activities of this area. Let us give them the benefit of doubt”, he stated.
