The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on the National Assembly to urgently intervene in the ongoing strike by primary school teachers in the FCT.
Wike made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja during an inspection of some ongoing projects. He expressed concern over the prolonged strike by primary school teachers and other workers in the FCT area councils, which he said is due to unpaid allowances and entitlements.
He urged the House of Representatives Committee on FCT Area Council and Ancillary Matters to take their oversight duties seriously and hold the area council chairmen accountable.
“The committee is supposed to monitor what the council chairmen are doing. Unfortunately, they are more focused on the FCT Administration, rather than checking how the councils are handling basic issues like education,” Wike said.
The minister reminded the committee that the National Assembly serves as the legislature for the FCT, and it is their duty to ensure that elected council leaders are doing their jobs.
“These chairmen are elected officials, not appointed. They must be held responsible for the situation affecting the teachers and schoolchildren. The National Assembly must step in now,” he added.
Wike said he has been engaging with the area council chairmen, warning them about the dangers of denying children access to education.
“Nobody is happy that teachers are sitting at home. Education is a basic right, and we must ensure that these children return to school as soon as possible,” he said.
The minister promised to work with relevant stakeholders to resolve the crisis quickly, assuring residents that a solution is in sight.
Teachers across the six area councils of the FCT have been on strike for several weeks, demanding the payment of backlog of entitlements and better working conditions. The strike has left thousands of pupils out of school, sparking widespread concern among parents and education advocates.
Wike’s appeal marks a renewed effort by the FCT Administration to shift focus to the council chairmen and press for accountability at the grassroots level.
