The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, recently got embroiled in the industrial dispute between striking primary school teachers in the territory and the chairmen of the six district councils.
During a tour of the ongoing Apo-Karshi road construction project on Thursday, the minister threatened to use the 10 per cent internally generated revenue (IGR) earmarked for the district councils to pay the teachers.
The local union of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) had declared a strike last week, demanding, among other things, the implementation of a 40 per cent Special Allowance and the payment of 25 months of minimum wage arrears.
Speaking on Thursday, Wike said no government would sit idly by and allow children to stay at home because of a strike, adding that he had invited the district council chairmen and NUT leaders to discuss the issue.
He said: “I have invited the district council chairmen and I have invited the NUT, so that we can sit down together. These are things that we have discussed. We are trying to do what we can to make the system work well. It is unfortunate, as I have said to the district council chairmen, that the teachers are on strike.
“That means that if the teachers are not paid, I will use the 10% of the IGR, which nobody has paid them, to pay the teachers. I will not sit back and allow that to happen. No serious government will allow its teachers to stay home while children suffer, I will not tolerate that.”
Regarding the Apo-Karshi project, the minister said that the contractor, Messrs Kakatar Limited, had assured that the project would be completed by April 2025.
“I still have doubts, but they are still insisting that by April, they will have completed this project. This is a project that is very dear to us, we know the importance of this road. Many people are eager to see this project completed on time, which will ease traffic and boost economic activities in this area. Let us give them the benefit of the doubt,” he added.
The situation presents significant challenges to the education sector and transport infrastructure in Nigeria’s federal capital. It is critical that the authorities find solutions quickly to ensure the welfare of teachers and students, while ensuring that development projects in the area are completed on time. Dialogue and cooperation among all stakeholders will be crucial to overcome these challenges and ensure a prosperous future for the FCT.