The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has threatened to make use of ten per cent of the Internally Generated Income meant for the Space Councils to pay placing main college academics within the FCT.
The minister said this on Thursday after inspecting the continued Apo-Karshi Street challenge.
Wike stated he wouldn’t enable youngsters to be affected by the strike, which has gone on for over every week, including that no critical authorities would allow it.
Recall that the academics resumed their strike on Wednesday, 18th September 2024, following a 14-day ultimatum beforehand issued to the Space Council Chairmen by the FCT Wing of the Nigeria Union of Academics.
The academics are demanding, amongst different issues, the implementation of a 40% Peculiar Allowance and the cost of 25 months of Minimal Wage Arrears.
The minister added that he had invited the Chairmen of the Space Councils and the FCT NUT management to debate the problem.
“I’ve invited the Space Council Chairmen and the NUT to allow us to sit down. These are the issues we speak about. We attempt to do what we are able to to see that the system is transferring nicely. It’s unlucky, as I instructed the Space Council Chairmen, that the academics are on strike.”
“And that can imply that if the academics aren’t paid, then I’ll use the ten% IGR, which no one has paid to them, to pay the academics. I cannot fold my arms and permit that to occur. No critical authorities will enable their academics to remain at residence whereas the youngsters are struggling; I cannot tolerate that,” he stated.
Talking on the Apo-Karshi challenge, the minister stated the contractor, Messrs Khakatar Restricted, had given assurances of finishing the challenge in April 2025, noting that he had opted to provide the contractor the advantage of the doubt.
“I nonetheless have my doubts, however they’re insisting that by April, they’ll have accomplished this challenge. It’s a challenge very pricey to us; we all know the significance of this highway. So many individuals are wanting to see that this challenge is accomplished on time so that it’ll ease plenty of visitors and likewise increase the financial actions of this space. Allow us to give them the advantage of the doubt,” he said.