January 17 2024
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has blamed the chairpersons of the six area councils for the ongoing strike by primary school teachers in the territory.
SaharaReporters had last week reported that the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) directed all primary school teachers in the FCT to resume indefinitely, its suspended strike with effect from last Monday.
The Union in a communique issued on Saturday in Abuja had said that the decision was taken at its State Wing Standing Committee (SWSC) emergency meeting which was held at the Teachers’ House in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The Union in the communique jointly signed by its State Chairman, Comrades Abdullahi Shafas, Secretary, Margaret Jethro and Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye, also said that secondary school teachers would join the indefinite strike.
Meanwhile, Wike, who addressed journalists in Abuja on Tuesday shortly before a close door emergency meeting with security agencies and the chairpersons, said the local council officials had not fulfilled their responsibilities.
The minister, therefore, blamed the lingering strike on the chairpersons and urged them to be more alive to their duties.
“Recently, the NUT has embarked on strike. It is not because of our fault. It is the council chairmen’s fault because primary schools are under the purview of the area councils.
“Again, it will look as if the ministers are doing nothing, but that is not our responsibility,” Wike said.
He, however, said they could not afford to fold their hands over the strike, adding that he had invited the striking teachers for a meeting to resolve the problems.
“Council chairmen should know that they must wake up to their responsibilities,” the minister added.
Kukuruku 105.9 FM Abuja News
