Teachers Strike: Pay or We Use 10℅ IGR To Pay, Wike To Council Chairmen

By: Wisdom Acka

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has warned that the FCT Administration (FCTA) may resort to using the 10 percent Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to settle salary arrears of primary school teachers in the FCT.

Wike dropped the hint, while parlying questions from journalists during inspection tour of the much awaited Apo-Karshi road and rehabilitation of Nyanya-Kpeyegyi road, Thursday.

The Minister disclosed that the FCT Administration has long fulfilled its obligation by releasing 40 percent of the teachers’ pay.

He, however, regretted that it was “unfortunate” for teachers not to be paid their salaries as and when due after work.

According to him, a meeting was scheduled with the chairmen to ensure that primary school teachers were paid their dues, warning failure to do, which the FCTA would have no other choice than to use the 10 percent to offset the arrears.

His words: “I’ve called the Chairmen and the NUT, let’s sit down. These are the things we talk about. We try to do what we can do, in order to see that the system is moving well. It will be unfortunate, in which I have told the chairmen that if the teachers are on strike, that will mean that, If they are not paid, then I will use the 10 percent IGR, which we normally pay to them, to pay to the teachers.”

“I will not fold my arms and allow that to happen. No serious government will see their teachers stay at home and children are suffering. I will not tolerate that,” he added.

Abuja Digest reports that 10 percent of the FCTA IGR is usually shared among the six Area Councils of the Territory.

Abuja Digest also recalls that the primary school teachers downed tools some time in January, owing to non payment of salaries.

They, however, returned to class after the FCT Minister released 40 percent of the salaries, remaining the six chairmen to keep to their responsibility of paying their 60 percent part, prompting them to embark on this current strike.