Wike: LG chairmen responsible for Abuja teachers strike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has blamed chairmen of the six area councils for the ongoing strike by primary school teachers in Abuja.

Wike, while speaking with journalists shortly before a close-door emergency meeting with security agencies and the chairmen in Abuja on Tuesday, said the local council officials have not lived up to their responsibilities.

The FCT wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) had, on Sunday, directed primary school teachers in Abuja to proceed on an indefinite strike from January 15.

The strike is a continuation of an earlier one suspended by the union in 2023 over the non-payment of 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance and 25 months minimum wage arrears, among other issues.

The NUT suspended the strike on October 2, 2023, to allow the resolution of the issues within six weeks, but nothing was done.

READ ALSO: NUT directs Abuja primary school teachers to resume strike

Wike, however, blamed the lingering strike on the chairmen and urged them to be more alive to their duties.

The minister said: “Recently the NUT has embarked on strike; it is not because of our fault, it is the council chairmen’s fault because primary schools are under the purview of the area councils.

“Again, it will look as if the ministers are doing nothing, but that is not our responsibility.

“Council chairmen should know that they must wake up to their responsibilities.”

Wike said he could not afford to fold his hands over the strike, adding that he had invited the striking teachers for a meeting to resolve the problems.

The Star