Wike Drops Sledgehammer: “Pay Your Teachers or Forfeit 10% of Your Funds”
By: IDNN Federal Capital Affairs Desk
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has dropped a policy sledgehammer on Abuja’s Area Council Chairmen, threatening to withhold 10% of their allocations if they fail to pay the new minimum wage to striking primary school teachers.
“I’ve tried dialogue. Now I’m applying pressure,” Wike said Monday, visibly frustrated with the ongoing standoff that has shut down basic education in the capital for weeks.
The minister described the situation as “embarrassing” and accused council bosses of failing to honour their obligations, despite receiving funds earmarked for salary adjustments.
📚 Teachers Still on Strike—Schools on Lockdown
The strike, spearheaded by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), is now in its fourth week, with classrooms deserted and pupils caught in the political crossfire.
Wike claims he personally intervened, ordered disbursements to councils, yet nothing changed.
“I cannot sack them—they are elected,” Wike explained. “But I can choke their purse. That’s within my power.”
Wike Sets Up Direct Disbursement Committee
Taking it a step further, the FCT Minister announced the creation of a monitoring committee to bypass councils and directly disburse salary funds to teachers, if necessary.
“If I must fund them directly to end this embarrassment, so be it,” he said.
He added that Abuja residents deserve functioning schools—and leadership that doesn’t hide behind bureaucracy when children’s futures are at stake.
Tinubu’s Second Anniversary Plans Proceed
Despite the tension, Wike also revealed that plans are underway to commemorate the second anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in Abuja. However, the strike may cast a long shadow over the celebration if unresolved.
The Political Play Behind the Policy Punch
Wike’s threat is more than a payroll issue—it’s a power play aimed at reinforcing his grip on the capital’s governance structure. The move sends a loud message: in Wike’s Abuja, delays have consequences.
With 2026 Area Council elections approaching, insiders say Wike is positioning himself as both reformer and enforcer—one who delivers results, even if it means bruising egos in the process.
