Gbagyi Youth Forum, Others Raise Alarm Over ₦59bn Teachers’ Debt

The FCT Gbagyi Youth Forum and stakeholders from the six Area Councils on Monday appealed for urgent intervention over the ₦59 billion Local Education Authority (LEA) teachers’ arrears, warning that the financial burden could affect grassroots development and service delivery across rural communities in the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Abuja, the Chairman of the Forum, Hon. Musa Jezhi Nyanya, said the councils were facing significant financial pressure and noted that asking the current administrations to shoulder teacher arrears dating back to 2011 could slow down critical projects such as roads, water supply, health centres and other basic services needed by residents.

He explained that while the group fully supports the payment of teachers and acknowledges their vital role in nation-building, it believes the arrears should be addressed in a way that does not disrupt ongoing development efforts at the grassroots.

Nyanya said the forum was also concerned about delays in the release of the statutory 10 per cent Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) due to the Area Councils, noting that timely disbursement of such funds would strengthen local governments’ capacity to meet their obligations and improve service delivery.

According to him, without urgent intervention, rural communities could experience setbacks in infrastructure development, healthcare delivery, youth employment and education, with wider implications for security and social stability.

He noted that local contractors, who play a major role in community development and youth employment, were already facing financial strain, adding that sustained funding challenges could affect ongoing projects and economic activities within the councils.

The forum further stressed that education would benefit more from a balanced funding approach that ensures teachers are paid while schools also receive support for repairs, learning materials and improved facilities.

As part of its recommendations, the group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider a special Presidential Intervention Fund to clear the ₦59 billion teachers’ arrears, describing the debt as a legacy issue that should be resolved without placing excessive pressure on current development allocations.

It also appealed for the prompt and transparent release of the 10 per cent IGR allocations to the six Area Councils and urged stronger collaboration among the Presidency, the FCT Administration and Area Council stakeholders to ensure sustainable grassroots governance and development in the nation’s capital.