The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has summoned the chairmen of the FCT area councils and leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, FCT Wing, for a meeting.
Wike said the meeting was to find lasting solutions to the lingering primary school teachers’ strike over unresolved welfare concerns.
The minister stated this on Thursday, in Abuja after inspecting ongoing projects in preparation for the inauguration to celebrate the second anniversary of President Bola Tinubu.
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He spoke while responding to the protest by the teachers in the early hours of Wednesday.
The minister, who described the development as very unfortunate, wondered why the chairmen of the FCT area councils did not have conscience.
According to him, the area council chairmen refused to pay the teachers their entitlements, in spite of receiving approved funds specifically for that purpose.
“They were unable to pay them. In fact, I got the report yesterday and have summoned all of them for a meeting.
“You see, that’s the problem we have in this country; by the time I apply the big stick, people will be saying all kinds of things.
“I don’t know why people don’t have conscience that these are teachers who take care of our children, and you are happy that you are not paying them their salaries,”; he said.
The minister, who explained that primary schools were under the purview of the area councils and not the FCT Administration, added that the area councils were in charge of primary schools.
Wike appealed to the NUT to give him some time, assuring that the issues would be sorted out soon.
