The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has accused teachers in the capital city of being unrealistic.
Speaking on the ongoing teachers’ strike, Wike stated that the FCT Administration under his leadership intervened, but the teachers refused to compromise,
He disclosed this during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Thursday.
The minister disclosed that he promised to pay the teachers in phases.
Wike said: “We intervened in the strike but some of the teachers have not been realistic, it will be difficult. We will pay in phases, that’s what I said.”
The Minister also lamented over the wage bill of his administration in comparison with the number of workers.
He added: “Almost 50,000 workers with a salary of N13bn every month, what do we get from the federal government?
“If the federal government gets N800bn a year, it gives us one percent, one percent of N800bn is N8bn. With N8bn, can I pay the salaries with this new minimum wage? Can it pay allowances?
I heard they locked the gate but they have taken their salaries, have you heard that you lock the gate but your salary will be paid?”
The minister also warned the Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, David Mark, Interim Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and former Rivers governor, Rotimi Amaechi, over their latest comments that Nigerians are angry with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration.
Wike accused the new coalition of exploiting national discontent for personal political gains, even as he dismissed the coalition’s adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a platform to contest 2027 elections, saying it was not for genuine national interest.
 “Because you have issues with someone, you say Nigerians are angry and then you go ahead and form a coalition. Please let’s take the issues of Nigeria seriously. I challenge all of them to show their scorecards. When they were at the helm of affairs, what did they do to better the country?” he said.
The minister demanded accountability from coalition members, insisting their past performance in government should disqualify them from posing as national saviours.