The Federal Capital Territory chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has accused the six area council chairmen in Abuja of diverting N4.1 billion released by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The money was intended for the payment of the 2024 national minimum wage to public primary school teachers who have been on strike for over three months.
The union’s treasurer, Emmanuel Ameh, made the claim during an interview on Arise News. He explained that Minister Wike approved the funds after meeting with union leaders to address the grievances of teachers in the territory. According to Ameh, the Minister approved and released N4.1 billion through the FCT Treasury Department for immediate payment to the teachers via the six area council chairmen.
However, the union alleges that the chairmen failed to implement the payment. When the matter was brought before the National Assembly Committee on FCT and Salaries, the chairmen admitted receiving the funds but controversially claimed the money was not for minimum wage implementation. Instead, they described the payment as a “signature allowance,” a claim that shocked lawmakers and union leaders alike.
Ameh recounted that the union had visited the Minister several times during the ongoing strike, which began on March 24, 2025. During one of the meetings, the Minister inquired about the reason for the strike, and the union explained that the 2024 minimum wage had not been implemented due to a lack of funds from the area councils. The next day, the Minister fulfilled his promise and approved the N4.1 billion payment. Despite this, the teachers were not paid, and the strike continued.
At the National Assembly hearing, the lawmakers questioned the council chairmen on what the funds were used for. The chairmen admitted to receiving the money but insisted it was meant for a different purpose. When asked to explain what a “signature allowance” meant, they failed to provide a convincing answer, raising concerns about possible financial mismanagement.
Despite receiving new minimum wage salaries in recent months, the striking teachers are now insisting on the full payment of peculiar allowances before they return to work. This has led to questions from the public and stakeholders about the true motives behind the prolonged strike. Secondary school teachers in the FCT, who are directly under the Minister’s supervision, are still in school despite being owed arrears. They have expressed willingness to wait until the administration has the capacity to pay, in contrast to the primary school teachers under the local councils.
The situation has sparked concerns that the ongoing strike may be politically motivated. Some observers believe union leaders may be working with opposition forces to discredit the efforts of the Minister and the federal government. This theory is strengthened by the fact that several interventions, including those by NGOs and the National Assembly, have not led to any resolution.
It is important to clarify that primary education in Nigeria, including in the FCT, falls under the responsibility of local government chairmen. These local councils are constitutionally independent of governors and the President. The fact that Minister Wike went out of his way to approve and release funds to settle the dispute highlights the seriousness of the issue and the urgency to restore normalcy in FCT schools.
As the strike enters its fourth month, thousands of pupils remain at home with no clear end in sight. Parents, education stakeholders, and the general public are calling for accountability, transparency, and an immediate resolution to the crisis.
