Wike Summons FCT Council Chiefs Over Unpaid Teachers' Salaries

• Apr 24, 2025

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has summoned FCT area council chairmen and the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) over the ongoing strike by primary school teachers. He made this move after inspecting projects tied to President Bola Tinubu’s upcoming second anniversary celebrations.

Wike described the strike as unfortunate and blamed the area council chairmen for failing to pay teachers, despite receiving over N4.1 billion specifically meant for their salaries. “It’s disheartening that teachers who educate our children are being neglected,” he said. He added that although the funds were released, the teachers were still not paid. “If I apply the big stick, people will start complaining,” Wike warned.

He clarified that the FCT Administration is not directly responsible for primary education, stressing that the duty lies with the area councils. He urged the striking teachers to be patient and assured them that efforts are being made to resolve the matter.

Earlier, NUT Chairman Abdullahi Shafa led a protest at the FCTA Secretariat, accusing the council chairmen of diverting funds meant for teachers’ salaries. He called on the National Assembly and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to step in. He also raised concerns about other pending issues such as the non-payment of approved salary increases and the N35,000 wage award.

The teachers’ strike has sparked support from several other unions, including the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), the FCT chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), and the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN).

These unions also held protests over the shutdown of more than 270 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the FCT. They are demanding the immediate reopening of these centres, payment of outstanding allowances, and implementation of the proposed N70,000 minimum wage.

James Medan, NANNM-FCT Chairman, expressed serious concern about the public health impact. He said maternal and child mortality rates were rising and that a planned polio vaccination campaign had already been disrupted. He warned that the continued closure of PHCs could worsen the growing health crisis.