Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyeson Wike has asked chairmen of the six Area Councils to immediately end the lingering strike by primary school teachers in the territory.
He warned that if the strike continue because the chairmen are adamant, he may be compelled to use the 10 per cent Internally Generated Revenue meant for the councils to pay the teachers.
Wike, who was answering reporters’ questions after inspecting some ongoing road projects, said: “I have invited the area council chairmen and the NUT to sit down.
“We try to do what we can do in order to see that the system is moving well. It is unfortunate that the teachers are on strike.
“That will mean that if the teachers are not paid, I will use the 10 percent of their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which we normally pay to them to pay the teachers.
“No serious government will fold its arms and watch the teachers stay at home while the children suffer. I will not tolerate that ”
Wike told newsmen after inspecting, among others, Apo-Karshi Road project and the newly awarded emergency rehabilitation of the Nyanya-Karshi road project that the Apo-Karshi Road project was very dear to the Administration.
He expressed doubt that the Contractor – Messr Kakatar, could deliver on the April 2025 deadline as promised.
“We thought that within seven months they ought to have completed but unfortunately the contractor could not move to site because of some procurement processes.
“But thank God we have passed that stage now and they have also been mobilised.
“I still have my doubts. I will not lie to you, but the contractors are insisting that by April they would have completed this project. It is a project that is very dear to us. “We know the importance of this road. So many people are eager to see that this road is completed on time so that it will ease off a lot of traffic. It will also boost the economic activities in this area.
“So let us give them (the contractor) the benefit of doubt and believe that they will play their own part.
“On our own part, we are doing what we are supposed to do. The funds are there to be given to them.
“And we believe that they should put more efforts. If I come back here again and see that they have improved on what we have seen on ground today, I will tell the treasury department to release further funds to them, but for now let’s watch them because we are very serious about this project.”
