The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Nyesom Wike, says it is not the responsibility of the FCT Administration to pay teachers’ salaries.
According to him, the responsibility is that of the area councils.
Wike made this statement on Thursday during a media parley in Abuja.
Primary school teachers in the FCT recently went on strike over non-payment of salaries.
Noting that the FCT Administration under his watch had intervened in the matter, Wike lamented that some of the teachers were unrealistic.
He appealed to the teachers to understand and appreciate his efforts.
“It is not our responsibility to pay teacher’s salaries but that of the area councils. Several times we have intervened. We are talking about the autonomy of local government areas. The last time, we intervened with about 60 percent.
“Have you heard of any secondary schools on strike? Have you heard that we don’t pay workers their salaries?
“When you fix minimum wage for everybody without considering the peculiarities, you will now find out what is the allocation for this area councils and how much did they make? Do they have the capacity to pay this? You would have allowed them to negotiate but it has happened and it has happened. We don’t have an Assembly apart from the Reps and the Senate,”; he said.
The minister also lamented over the wage bill of his administration in comparison with the number of workers.
DAILY POST reports that FCT-owned primary schools have been on strike for months, which led to protests.
