Wike Orders Direct Payment to FCT Teachers, Bypasses Council Chairmen Over Strike

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has stepped into the ongoing teachers’ strike in Abuja, ordering direct payment of allowances after meeting with Nigeria Union of Teachers leadership — and making clear he is frustrated with area council chairmen who received over ₦4.1 billion for teachers’ salaries and didn’t pay them.

Wike said he intercepted Internally Generated Revenue allocations meant for the area councils and directed the treasury to pay teachers’ outstanding entitlements directly, bypassing the councils altogether. “I was surprised to learn that despite our agreement, there are plans to go on strike. Such action undermines ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis,” he said.

The FCT primary and secondary school teachers began an indefinite strike last Friday over unresolved welfare concerns — specifically the non-payment of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increments and a 40 per cent peculiar allowance. NUT FCT Chairman Abdullahi Shafa described Friday’s meeting with Wike as “very fruitful” but was careful to note the strike has not been suspended. The union’s leadership will meet separately to decide next steps.

Wike’s intervention comes after he had earlier summoned all area council chairmen over the same issue. He blamed procedural lapses for the delayed resolution, saying council chairs were not invited to prior meetings. “Primary school teachers’ salaries and allowances remain the statutory responsibility of the area councils, but the FCT Administration stepped in to prevent disruption in the education system,” he said.

The dispute has drawn solidarity from other unions, including NULGE, NANNM, and MHWUN, who are also protesting the closure of over 270 Primary Healthcare Centres across the FCT. Nurses raised concerns about rising maternal and child mortality and a disrupted polio vaccination campaign.

The strike is still on. Whether Friday’s intervention breaks the deadlock depends on what the councils actually do next.

Sources: Vanguard, BusinessDay, Gazette NG