Abuja Not A Haven For Beggars, Says Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Nyesom Wike, has reiterated that Abuja must not be allowed to become a refuge for beggars and destitutes.

He therefore called on state governments across the country to take responsibility for the welfare of their citizens to curb the mass movement of vulnerable individuals into the nation’s capital.

Wike, who expressed concern over the increasing influx of beggars into the city, warned that such trends could pose serious security risks if not urgently addressed.

He condemned the sentiments being expressed against efforts to rid the city of street beggars, stating that effective governance requires difficult but necessary decisions.

Speaking on recent remarks that Nigerians are hungry, Wike dismissed such statements as politically motivated.

According to him, “Those making such claims are not hungry for solutions, but hungry for power. Their interests are not in serving the people, but in promoting personal agenda.”

The FCT Minister also took a swipe at politicians who previously held leadership positions but failed to make meaningful impact, urging them to refrain from inciting public sentiments for selfish gains.

“These are the stories they cook up when you refuse to do their bidding. They want to distract us with blackmail, but it won’t work. ”

Addressing the prolonged strike by public primary school teachers in the territory, Wike acknowledged that he lacks the legal authority to withhold any portion of Area Councils’ allocations.

He, however, advocated for a constitutional amendment that would place the responsibility of primary school teachers’ salaries under a more centralized framework.

According to him, such an amendment represents a sustainable solution to the current financial incapacity of Area Councils, which has led to a nearly three-month-long teachers’ strike in the FCT.

While sympathising with the teachers, Wike urged them to be realistic in their demands.

“We recognize their challenges, but it is not possible to meet all demands at once. There must be room for gradual implementation,” he stated.

The Minister further highlighted the financial strain on the FCTA, revealing that the administration has a workforce of over 50,000 employees, with a monthly wage bill exceeding ₦13 billion. In contrast, the FCT receives only ₦8 billion per month from the statutory 1% federal allocation.

He clarified that the responsibility of paying primary school teachers lies with the Area Councils but however, he said that the FCTA has intervened in the matter as a responsive government in order to resolve the ongoing strike in the best interest of the nation’s future leaders.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji