EXCLUSIVE: Despite ₦66.7 Billion Allocation, FCT Under Wike Fails To Pay Teachers New Minimum Wage
Despite receiving a total of ₦66.7 billion in federal allocations over the past 14 months, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration led by Minister Nyesom Wike has failed to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage for primary school teachers, leaving more than 400 public schools shut for nearly three months.
Data from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, reviewed by SaharaReporters, shows that the six Area Councils in the FCT received consistent funding between January 2024 and February 2025. Monthly allocations ranged from ₦3.6 billion to ₦7.1 billion, with particularly large disbursements recorded in the final quarter of 2024.
Yet, primary school teachers across the six councils have been on indefinite strike since March 24, 2025, now in its 86th day, citing the government's failure to implement the agreed minimum wage and clear outstanding salary arrears.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), FCT Chapter, has issued multiple ultimatums to the administration. In a letter dated June 11 and signed by NLC FCT Chairperson Comrade Stephen Knabayi, the union condemned the government's continued silence and inaction. “Your refusal to act on our demands served on April 24 and again on May 16 is noted with displeasure,” the letter read, warning of a planned picketing of FCTA offices on June 19 if no action is taken.
The crisis stems from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on December 11, 2024, by the FCT Administration, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and the NLC. The agreement promised a phased rollout of the ₦70,000 wage starting January 2025, payment of five months’ salary arrears, and allocation of 50% of each council’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to fulfill these obligations.
Despite forming a tripartite implementation committee led by Minister of State Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, no part of the MoU has been executed as of mid-June 2025.
As classrooms remain closed and tensions rise, the NLC has slammed the FCT Administration’s approach as “irresponsible and provocative,” questioning how such significant funding failed to deliver even the most basic commitment to teachers’ welfare.
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