The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has asked the National Assembly to pay serious attention to the performance of area council chairmen amid an ongoing strike by primary school teachers and other council workers.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, Wike expressed concern over the disruption in education due to unpaid allowances and entitlements. He addressed the matter after inspecting several ongoing development projects in the FCT.
Wike called on the House of Representatives Committee on FCT Area Council and Ancillary Matters to step in and resolve the crisis. He reminded the committee that its duty includes oversight of the area councils, especially since the chairmen were elected and hold responsibility for the welfare of their constituents.
He questioned why the committee seemed more focused on the FCT Administration’s budget presentations instead of the pressing issues affecting basic education. Wike stated that the National Assembly, as the legislative arm for the FCT, should hold the council chairmen accountable.
The minister emphasized that he had engaged the council leaders multiple times, urging them to understand the consequences of keeping children out of school. He expressed disappointment that some lawmakers were ignoring their primary duties, focusing instead on less relevant matters.
Wike said he expected the committee to have already summoned the area council chairmen to find practical solutions to the strike. While assuring the public that efforts were ongoing to return teachers to the classrooms, he pledged his full support toward ending the crisis.
He concluded by stating that no one should feel comfortable while children remain out of school and promised that the situation would be resolved soon.
