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By Oscar Okhifo
Few days after Pointblank News reported the lingering strike of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary schools Teachers, and the negative toll on the teachers, the pupils and their parents, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has chided the six Area Councils of the FCT, describing them as men without conscience.
A visibly vexed Wike spoke with newsmen during his projects inspection tour in the city, wondering why the Chairmen had refused to do the right thing inspite of his N4.1bn intervention.
“This is a very unfortunate situation. By law, the Area Councils are in charge of the primary schools in their various councils. What exactly are they doing with their money? They can’t develop infrastructures, they still can’t pay primary schools teachers? Even as I have released the sum of N4.1bn for this purpose, they still haven’t seen the urgency of paying them. This is not acceptable.
“These teachers have families to care for. Why don’t you have conscience? If I wield the big stick now, they will begin to say this and that”
The Minister also said he had summoned the Chairmen to his office for a serious discussion.
Recall that for over a month now, public primary schools in FCT have been under lock and key because the teachers are on strike over unpaid salaries arrears on the template of the new minimum wage.
The teachers and parents whose children and wards are pupils in the locked schools had pleaded with the Minister for intervention and he responded with the release of N4.1bn. The Area Council Chairmen are the ones rocking the boat as it stands.
The teachers are not contemplating a resumption yet, maintaining their vow not to call off the strike until their demands were met in full.