Wike threatens to pay striking teachers with Area Council’s IGR
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Philip Yatai
Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has said he may be forced to use use 10 per cent Internally Generated Revenue, IGR due to the six Area Councils of the territory to settle the demands of members of Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) who are currently on strike.
“We have tried to do what we could to see the system was moving well.
“It is, however, unfortunate that the teachers are still on strike. It is very unfortunate.
“if the teachers are not paid, I will use the 10 per cent of IGR which we normally pay to the area councils to pay the teachers
“I will not fold my hands and allow that to happen. No serious government will see their teachers stay at home and their children are suffering.
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“I will not tolerate that; I won’t,” the minister said
some of the demands of the teachers not yet met by the Area Councils are non-payment of 60 per cent of the 25 months old minimum wage arrears, and non-implementation and payment of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increase.
Others are non-implementation and payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance, non-payment of the N35,000 wage award arrears and the non implementation of the template on outstanding entitlements of teachers as agreed in 2022.
The union said that the FCT Minister had earlier intervened and promised to pay 40 per cent of the outstanding 25 months minimum wage arrears.
As part of the resolution for suspending the strike, the six area councils were expected to pay the remaining 60 per cent of the minimum wage arrears.
The teachers acknowledged that Wike had redeemed the 40 per cent pledge, while the area councils’ chairmen have not fulfilled their part of the agreement. (NAN
