By Eunice Orike
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended the decision to withhold 10 percent of the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) due to area councils, says that the funds are being deployed to clear salary arrears owed to primary school teachers.
Speaking during a media interaction in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike said the move is a targeted intervention aimed at ending recurring strikes and restoring stability to the FCT’s basic education system.
According to him, the temporary deduction has not attracted resistance from stakeholders, as those directly affected understand the urgency of resolving the crisis.
“Nobody is complaining because those involved know the situation. We are taking 10 per cent for a specific period to address a problem that has kept children out of school,” he said.
The minister explained that the funds are being channelled into structured monthly payments to offset outstanding entitlements, particularly at the primary school level where unpaid salaries have led to repeated industrial actions.
“Our children have been at home because teachers are not paid. That is unacceptable. We must intervene to ensure these obligations are met,” he added.
Wike noted that the FCT Administration is committed to clearing the backlog of salaries in phases, stressing that returning the funds to the councils without resolving the issue would only prolong the disruption in the education sector.
“We are paying a fixed amount monthly until the arrears are cleared. If we do otherwise, the strikes will persist. That is not an option,” he said.
