KEY POINTS
- Wike demands National Assembly intervene in FCT teachers’ strike.
- Area council chairmen must not ignore primary school teachers.
- Education must not suffer due to failed local oversight.
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, asked the National Assembly to focus on the work of area councils.
In response to the primary school teachers’ and council employees’ protest over unpaid entitlements, Wike made the call Thursday in Abuja.
Wike urges assembly to focus on FCT area councils’ roles
After examining ongoing FCT projects, the minister made the statement and underlined the necessity of legislative monitoring of area council operations.
In order to put an end to the ongoing primary school teachers’ strike, he urged the House Committee on FCT Area Council and Ancillary Matters.
Wike emphasized that in order to guarantee efficient and responsible government, the council chairmen needed direct supervision as elected authorities.
He claimed that in order to comprehend the harm that results from denying children access to fundamental education services, he had been talking to the chairman.
Wike pointed out that rather than focusing only on the FCT Administration and its ministerial budget, the committee ought to keep an eye on council operations.
Committee must oversee FCT councils, not just summon ministers
He took issue with the committee’s emphasis on asking the state minister to defend a budget that had already been approved and examined.
During Thursday’s inspection visit to Abuja, Wike stated, “People prioritize duties outside their legislative jurisdiction and ignore their statutory responsibilities.”
He claimed that in order to find prompt and long-lasting answers, the committee chair ought to have called in council leaders on the teachers’ strike.
The minister pledged to take all required steps to guarantee that instructors return to schools throughout the region as soon as possible.
Due to continuous strikes that limit their access to necessary education, Wike continued, “no one is happy when children are at home.”
He gave them his word that the strike problem would be settled quickly and that classes in FCT public schools will completely restart.
