From all indications, including his directives on the ‘no vacancy’ policy for the promotion of eligible teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, as the Minister of the FCT, seems to have resolved to keep creating scenarios that would make the teachers look like scapegoats. This is the second time in two months that this column has made Wike and FCT teachers the subject of discourse. The first was on July 11, 2026 edition of this newspaper, when it published the piece, ‘Oga Wike, listen to FCT teachers.’
In addition to issues of non-payment of teachers’ legitimate entitlements, the previous piece also highlighted the negative impact of strikes on basic education. The effect of Wike’s underdevelopment of education in the FCT is evidenced by the 2026 UTME and WAEC/SSCE abysmal results of candidates from FCT public schools. That piece was provoked by the FCT teachers’ disruption of promotion examination to protest the no-vacancy policy of Wike. Indeed, this lawful demonstration by the teachers marked the beginning of an unending persecution by their own employer.
Consequently, the leadership of the FCT Secondary Education Board (SEB) and the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) were removed from office, allegedly on Wike’s orders. The heads of the two FCT agencies (SEB and UBEB) had previously suffered the same fate when the then Director of the FCT SEB (Dr Sani Ladan), and the Director of the FCT UBEB were both removed from office for being proactive to shut down schools for vacation earlier than scheduled. When the news of the abduction of school children in Oyo state broke, the then FCT Director of Schools (who also suffered removal from office) had written to schools to quickly finish up their end of term examinations in order to forestall any incidences of kidnapping.
This columnist is disturbed by Wike’s persistent harassment of FCT teachers; yet for very inconsequential reasons. He would forever remain proud to publicly declare his solidarity for teachers, anytime, anywhere, as far as it concerns their demand for legitimate entitlements. Beginning as a Grade II teacher in 1979, I’ve lived the greater part of my life as a classroom teacher across various levels (primary, secondary and tertiary); spending, so far, over two decades in each of the last two.
In 2020 the then education minister, Malam Adamu Adamu, under late President Muhammadu Buhari announced a ground-breaking investment package for teachers, including the extension of service year for teachers from 35 to 40 years and an increase in their retirement age from 60 to 65 years. President Buhari signed the Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act 2022 into law on April 8, 2022. Section 1 of the Act provides teachers could retire from pensionable service by whichever of the two that comes earlier.
This special offer is, indeed, the bone of contention over which Minister Wike, for several months now, has refused to allow FCT teachers to have deep, sound sleep. It’s also unfortunate that this well-deserving privilege granted to teachers by the Buhari administration has rather earned them the envy of other categories of civil servants in the country. It’s worse, however, that Oga Wike, even as a minister, would be spiteful of this exclusive offer for teachers.
Of course, the ‘Hasken Abuja’ may have relatively done well in some areas, but as for teachers and basic education in the FCT, the Nigerian public is unlikely to give him a pass. For instance, students have been taking lessons under tree shade in many schools outside of the city where classroom blocks, which had their roofs removed for renovation works, have continued to remain in an open-air learning environment because the over-one-year-old renovation projects are yet to be completed. The Honourable Minister of the FCT can do better than this for teachers and basic education. ‘Hasken Abuja ‘, which is a Hausa traditional title conferred on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on April 30, 2026 by the FCT Council of Traditional Rulers, could be translated into English as ‘The Light of Abuja.’
Like the offer for teachers, some categories of judges and university professors equally enjoy the privilege of retiring at 70 years of age. Similarly, some professionals, including medical doctors and nurses, have special salary structures different from what exists in the mainstream public service. Yet, no one detests them in the way teachers are begrudged by the FCT administration under Wike. Readers should help this writer to remind Wike that he was taught by teachers at all levels of his educational pursuit, including when he was at the Law School.
Last week, the FCT administration approved the posting of education officers currently in the elongated period of their service (35-40 years) to various schools as classroom teachers. This posting, believed by teachers to be ulterior-motivated, derives from a circular issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on the ‘Guidelines on the Implementation of the New Retirement Age and Length of Service for the Teaching Profession.’ Section II(e) of the document states that, ‘All successful applicants will be deployed to serve as teachers in schools or quality assurance officers in the headquarters, zonal or state offices of the FEQUAS.’
Believing that the circular meant well, the posting of directors to schools as classroom teachers to serve under principals who are lower in rank than them is strange and unknown to the established norm in the teaching profession. The offence of the teachers? They are beneficiaries of the harmonized retirement age that allows them to remain in service longer than other categories of workers. A plausible insinuation from this development scenario is that this was intended to provoke the anger of the teachers to a level that they would, out of frustration, choose to forego a troubled extension of service and simply retire to have peace of mind.
Wike should honorably stop or be advised to stop harassing FCT teachers. It’s exceedingly surprising that the Federal Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) have each remained tongue-tied over the FCT’s dishonest implementation of the extended service year for teachers; a national policy authorized by an Act of the National Assembly. Where are the country’s human rights lawyers? We are compelled by this scenario to remember late Gani Fawehinmi. May Allah guide Wike to treat teachers and the teaching profession with decorum and respect. Amin.