By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), has accused the chairmen of the six area councils of diverting N4.1 billion released by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for the payment of the new national minimum wage to public primary school teachers.
Emmanuel Ameh, the treasurer of the NUT in the FCT, made the allegation during an interview on Arise News. According to him, the council chairmen told lawmakers the funds were instead used for “signature allowance.”
Public primary school teachers in the FCT have been on strike since March 24, 2025, over the failure of local authorities to implement the federal government-approved minimum wage.
Ameh recounted that Minister Wike, in a bid to end the prolonged strike, promised to release the outstanding funds and fulfilled the pledge the following day.
The money was then disbursed to the area council chairmen, who were expected to pay the teachers.
However, the union was shocked to learn that the funds were not used for the intended purpose. “When we met with the Minister, he asked why schools were shut down.
“We explained that the 2024 minimum wage had not been implemented and the area councils claimed they lacked funds,” Ameh said.
“The Minister told us to return the next day. When we did, the Permanent Secretary of the Treasury informed us that the Minister had just approved N4.1 billion for the implementation of the minimum wage. We were glad,” he added.
Despite the release of the funds, the teachers were not paid. The matter was taken to the National Assembly, where the House Committees on FCT and Salary summoned the six council chairmen.
“At the hearing, the lawmakers asked the council chairmen if they had received the N4.1 billion, and they admitted they did. But when asked what they did with it, they claimed it was not meant for minimum wage but for a ‘signature allowance,’” Ameh said.
According to him, the lawmakers were stunned and questioned the existence of such an allowance. “What is signature allowance?” they asked, but the council bosses could not provide a clear explanation.
The Daily Post reports that while other categories of workers have begun receiving the new wage, primary school teachers in the FCT remain excluded, leaving the state of basic education in the territory in crisis.
The NUT is now calling for accountability and urging both the National Assembly and the FCT administration to ensure the diverted funds are recovered and teachers are paid their dues.
