• As nurses, teachers protest PHC closure, demand N70,000 minimum wage
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday held an emergency meeting with the chairmen of the Area Councils to address the ongoing strike by the primary school teachers over unpaid entitlements and the non-implementation of the new minimum wage.
The nurses, primary school teachers and Area Council workers in the territory had staged a joint protest at the FCTA Secretariat, demanding the immediate reopening of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.
The protest, organised by the Joint Unions comprising the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the FCT chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), highlighted the worsening health and education crises in the territory.
Chairman of NANNM-FCT, James Medan, expressed grave concern over the shutdown of more than 270 PHCs across the six Area Councils, warning of dire consequences. “We have fewer than 130 nurses and midwives currently managing these facilities. Women and children are dying because the centres have remained shut for over a month,” he said.
Medan accused the Area Council Chairmen of withholding over N4.1 billion released by the FCT Minister to pay workers’ entitlements, including hazard and uniform allowances. “The Minister intervened, but the chairmen have refused to pay,” he charged.
Medan also raised alarm over the disruption of a nationwide polio vaccination campaign due to the closures, cautioning that “the territory risks new cases of the disease,” if the shutdown continues.
In solidarity, Chairman of NUT FCT, Abdullahi Shafa, condemned the non-payment of the new minimum wage to primary school teachers, who have been on strike for over a month. “The N4.1 billion released by the Minister for teachers and nurses has gone under the bridge.
“Teachers are being used to settle personal issues, and this must stop,” he stated.
He appealed to Wike to intervene urgently to prevent the collapse of the education system in the Area Councils.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) threatened to escalate the protest if the demands were not met within a week.
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero told protesters, “This rally is not the main action, but a sign of what will happen if the authorities fail to do the needful. I assure you of the solidarity of all Nigerian workers in the fight for better welfare and working conditions.”
Responding on behalf of the Minister, Mandate Secretary of the FCT Education Secretariat, Dr. Hayyo Danlami, assured the protesters that their letter would be delivered to Wike and that their concerns would be addressed accordingly.
But, speaking to journalists during an inspection of key road infrastructure projects in Abuja, Wike described the strike as very unfortunate and criticised the Area Council chairmen for failing to pay teachers despite receiving approved funds.
He said: “The Area Council chairmen, after I have approved money to be sent to them for them to be able to pay the teachers were unable to do that. In fact, I got the report yesterday and I have been able to summon all of them.”
The Minister emphasised that primary schools fall under the jurisdiction of the Area Councils, making them responsible for the payment of teachers’ salaries.
“I don’t know why people don’t have conscience that these are teachers who take care of our children and you are happy that you are not paying them their salaries,” he lamented.
Wike also appealed to the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to be patient while the government works to resolve the issues. “I have summoned them to a meeting and also continue to appeal to NUT to give them some time that these things will be sorted out,” he added.
The strike by primary school teachers, led by the NUT, has been ongoing due to the non-payment of the new N70,000 minimum wage, a 40 percent peculiar allowance, and other agreed salary increments. The union accuses the Area Council Chairmen of diverting funds meant for teachers’ salaries, calling for intervention from the National Assembly and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.