Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike has warned that he may use 10% of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) meant for Area Council Chairmen to pay striking primary school teachers in Abuja.
The teachers, who are owed by the six council chairmen, have been on strike, leaving children out of school.
Speaking after inspecting the Abuja-Karshi road reconstruction, Wike expressed frustration over the situation, stating, “No serious government would be happy seeing children of school age at home due to avoidable strikes.”
Wike said, “I’ve invited the area council chairmen and then I’ve invited the NUT, and let’s sit down. These are the things we talk about. We try to do what we can do in order to see that the system is moving well. It is unfortunate, which I told the area council chairmen.
“And that will mean that if the teachers are not paid, I will use the 10% IGR, which we normally pay them to pay the teachers. No serious government will allow their teachers to stay at home while the children are suffering, I will not tolerate that.”
