The crisis rocking the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over unpaid salaries and entitlements of primary school teachers has intensified, with the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, threatening to wield the proverbial “big stick” against erring Area Council Chairmen. What began as a demand for justice by neglected educators is quickly morphing into a full-blown governance emergency, paralyzing education and threatening the healthcare system across the territory.
The teachers, under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), embarked on an indefinite strike in January 2024 after years of broken promises. Their demands are clear: full payment of the 25-month arrears of the N70,000 national minimum wage approved since 2019, backlog of promotion benefits, and settlement of other allowances. Despite repeated negotiations and government pronouncements, the Area Councils have failed to honour their commitments.
At the heart of the controversy is the N4.1 billion fund reportedly approved and released by Wike himself to settle the wage arrears. Union leaders have now alleged that this money was diverted by some Area Council Chairmen, deepening distrust between the councils and the teaching workforce. Wike, visibly enraged by these allegations, has warned that he will not hesitate to take punitive action, including the possible suspension or removal of council bosses found culpable.
The situation took a dramatic turn recently when protesting teachers and allied workers blocked the entrance to the FCTA Secretariat, wielding placards that read “Is it wrong to teach in primary school?” and “Wike, rescue us from Area Council tyranny.” The message was unmissable: the teachers are out of patience.
The ripple effects of the strike have spilled beyond the classroom. Over 270 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) under the Area Councils have shut their doors, with only 130 nurses currently struggling to cater to the entire FCT population. Communities are beginning to feel the heat, with rising complaints of unattended health emergencies and school closures stretching families and local economies to breaking point.
This is not the first time FCT teachers have downed tools. Since the approval of the national minimum wage in 2019, the Area Councils have failed to implement the policy fully, despite clear federal directives and the passage of relevant laws. Yet, the councils continue to claim lack of funds or blame political bottlenecks, a narrative the unions have consistently rejected.
As the impasse deepens, many residents are calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and ensure accountability at the grassroots level. Civil society organisations have also urged anti-corruption agencies to investigate the alleged diversion of public funds meant for salaries, describing the strike as a symptom of a broader governance failure.
With the school term in jeopardy and health services collapsing in rural communities, the coming days will test the political will of the FCT administration. Will Wike follow through on his threat and bring defaulting council chairmen to book, or will this crisis linger, eroding public trust and endangering lives?
For the teachers and the communities that rely on them, the answer can’t come soon enough.