• Says land grabbing allegation sponsored by failed politician from Adamawa, renovated ICC made N650m in 3 weeks
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described as unrealistic demands made by some teachers in the prolonged closure of public primary schools in the capital city.
Speaking during his monthly media chat in yesterday, he explained that the FCT Administration under his leadership intervened but some of the teachers were unrealistic. in their demands. “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 decried the wage bill of his administration in comparison with the number of workers. “Almost 50,000 workers with a salary of N13 billion every month, what do we get from the Federal Government? If the Federal Government gets N800 billion a year, it gives us one percent. And one percent of N800 billion is N8 billion. With N8 billion, 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.”
Reacting for the first time on accusations of land grabbing involving his two sons, he dismissed the allegations as a sponsored story by a failed politician from Adamawa State.
The minister, however, declined to reveal the identity of the purported sponsor.
He emphasised that while such matters “do not contribute to the national development, he has never made such allocations.”
He equally disclosed that the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre, renovated at N39 billion, generated N650 million three weeks after inauguration.
According to him, before the renovation of the conference centre, the FCT received a revenue of N50 million annually.
He stated: “Let me tell you how this country works. The man they gave the conference centre was paying N50 million to the FCT every year.
“That place was commissioned on June 10, and the revenue made within three weeks was N650 million. Why? People love good things.
“The president hosted the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government in that international conference centre. Go and see the comments from ambassadors. People are rushing to that place now. In fact, there’s no space. As I speak, it has been booked up till 2027.”