Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has revealed plans to use 10 percent share of Internally Generated Revenue ( IGR) belonging to Six Area Councils in Abuja, to pay striking Primary School teachers.
Wike expressed disappointment that the Councils’ Chairmen failed in their obligation, after the meeting in January this year, where it was agreed that the FCTA will pay 40 percent of the salaries and allowances arrears, while the Councils pay 60 percent.
The Minister disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday when he inspected some ongoing road projects at Apo-Karshi.
Recall that FCT primary school teachers resumed another strike for almost a week following the collapse of the January truce, when the first strike was initiated.
The striking teachers, under the umbrella of Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT), are angry that their demand for the implementation of 40% Peculiar Allowance, and payment of 25 months Minimum Wage Arrears, have not been heeded to by the Councils.
New Telegraph gathered that the payment of primary school teachers’ salaries and other allowances, is the responsibility of Area Councils Chairmen, but the Minister agreed to bail them out with 60 percent of the required funding to ensure that the public schools were not shut down.
Wike disclosed that he has summoned the Council Chairmen and other stakeholders, because he can’t allow the teachers and pupils to remain at home.
He said, “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.
