FCT Minister Nyesom Wike convened a critical meeting this Thursday, bringing together council chairmen of the six Area Councils, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
The goal: chart a path forward for reopening public primary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following a prolonged strike caused by unpaid salaries .
The engagement follows earlier interventions, including a pre-meeting at the DSS headquarters and talks with the House of Representatives FCT Committee chaired by Rep. Muktar Betara
These initial sessions helped clarify that, under the FCT’s unique local government autonomy, primary school teacher salaries are the responsibility of Area Councils—not the FCTA .
Wike proposed a pragmatic bailout formula—with the FCTA covering 60% of the outstanding salary arrears and Area Councils responsible for the remaining 40%.
However, when councils failed to mobilize their share, Wike withheld two months of their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for May and June to fund the balance
NANS confirmed that schools will reopen soon, suspending planned protests as they monitor the implementation of resolutions .
The association reiterated that no child should be denied education due to governance lapses.
Government sources indicate that the held-back revenues are expected to settle the arrears by week’s end, ensuring that both teachers and healthcare workers receive back wages.
The Thursday meeting marks a significant milestone. Wike emphasized that the collaborative approach, backed by legislative oversight, can resolve longstanding fiscal challenges affecting public education. Both unions and councils have pledged to work in good faith to restore normalcy.
