Dailytrust Nigeria News: Prioritise education, Wike tells FCT council chairmen
Published on: 05/06/2026
By Al-Mustapha A. Mustapha
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has directed Area Council chairmen to place education at the top of their governance agenda, warning that continued disruption of schooling across the territory is unacceptable.
Wike gave the charge in Abuja while addressing members of the FCT Stakeholders Assembly during an appreciation visit at the FCDA conference hall.
Reacting to the recent teachers’ strike in the territory, the minister said elected chairmen must take full responsibility for resolving issues affecting basic education, stressing that governance is about delivering solutions, not excuses.
“Our children cannot be sitting at home. Council Chairmen were elected to solve problems, not to cry about them. There is no excuse whatsoever because education is the first priority for any nation. Without education, insecurity will only get worse,” he said.
He linked the state of education directly to security, noting that failure to invest in learning and human capital development could worsen social instability in the FCT.
Beyond education, Wike also urged the chairmen to focus on their current mandates rather than pursuing premature political ambitions, particularly those eyeing legislative positions ahead of the 2027 elections. He stressed that governance at the grassroots requires dedication and results-driven leadership.
The minister also used the occasion to highlight ongoing interventions in agriculture, directing relevant officials to provide tractors to chiefdoms to enhance food production, while calling on traditional rulers to submit names for vacant third-class chief positions.
While touching on broader political issues, Wike commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustaining infrastructure development in the FCT despite low electoral support from the territory in 2023.
Earlier, President of the FCT Stakeholders Assembly, Aliyu Daniel Kwali, praised the minister’s policies, particularly improvements in compensation for indigenous lands and efforts to promote inclusiveness.
Wike gave the charge in Abuja while addressing members of the FCT Stakeholders Assembly during an appreciation visit at the FCDA conference hall.
Reacting to the recent teachers’ strike in the territory, the minister said elected chairmen must take full responsibility for resolving issues affecting basic education, stressing that governance is about delivering solutions, not excuses.
“Our children cannot be sitting at home. Council Chairmen were elected to solve problems, not to cry about them. There is no excuse whatsoever because education is the first priority for any nation. Without education, insecurity will only get worse,” he said.
He linked the state of education directly to security, noting that failure to invest in learning and human capital development could worsen social instability in the FCT.
Beyond education, Wike also urged the chairmen to focus on their current mandates rather than pursuing premature political ambitions, particularly those eyeing legislative positions ahead of the 2027 elections. He stressed that governance at the grassroots requires dedication and results-driven leadership.
The minister also used the occasion to highlight ongoing interventions in agriculture, directing relevant officials to provide tractors to chiefdoms to enhance food production, while calling on traditional rulers to submit names for vacant third-class chief positions.
While touching on broader political issues, Wike commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustaining infrastructure development in the FCT despite low electoral support from the territory in 2023.
Earlier, President of the FCT Stakeholders Assembly, Aliyu Daniel Kwali, praised the minister’s policies, particularly improvements in compensation for indigenous lands and efforts to promote inclusiveness.