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Wike Offers ₦10m To Councillors Who Deliver Wards For Tinubu
Wike Offers ₦10m To Councillors Who Deliver Wards For Tinubu
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced a proposed ₦10 million reward for councillors who successfully deliver their respective wards for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Wike said the initiative was part of efforts by the political coalition supporting Tinubu’s re-election to mobilise grassroots support across the country, urging councillors to work with political leaders, youths and community stakeholders to secure victory for the President.
The minister made the announcement on Monday during a Town Hall Interactive Meeting with political stakeholders, traditional rulers and residents of Kwali area council, Abuja.
He said the coalition had resolved to recognise councillors who delivered their wards, describing them as critical instruments for mobilising support for Tinubu at the grassroots.
“Every councillor that delivers his ward, every councillor that wins and delivers his ward, we want to give N10 million,” Wike declared.
He urged the councillors to take the message to their political leaders and mobilise residents, particularly youths, to support the President ahead of the 2027 election.
“Go to your ward, go and see your leaders. I know you cannot do it alone, but we are using you as instruments to reach our leaders. Go and meet your leaders, go and meet your youths and tell them this is something that has come. We must not allow this thing to go,” he said.
Wike also disclosed plans to convene a special mobilisation meeting for political stakeholders ahead of the election, insisting that the coalition’s commitment to Tinubu’s re-election would be demonstrated through grassroots activities rather than mere declarations.
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The minister used the occasion to renew his call for greater political representation for the FCT, lamenting what he described as the longstanding marginalisation of the territory in the country’s political structure.
He questioned the disparity in legislative representation between the FCT and some states, noting that the territory, with an estimated population of six to seven million people, has only one senator and three members of the House of Representatives.
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According to him, some states with smaller populations have three senators and as many as eight or more representatives in the House of Representatives.
Wike said the FCT deserved a stronger voice in national affairs, adding that its residents should enjoy representation and institutional recognition comparable to those of other states.
He, however, clarified that his argument was not necessarily a demand for the creation of another state but for the FCT to enjoy the full political and constitutional recognition appropriate to its population and status.
The minister also highlighted what he described as major achievements of the Tinubu administration in addressing the longstanding institutional challenges facing the territory.
He listed the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, appointment of an indigenous Head of Service and removal of the FCT from the Single Treasury Account (TSA) among the significant reforms that had strengthened the administration’s autonomy.
According to Wike, the legal framework for an independent FCT civil service had existed since 2008, but previous administrations failed to implement it.
He said the implementation had now provided opportunities for FCT indigenes to be employed into the territory’s civil service and rise through the career structure to become permanent secretaries and Head of Service.
Wike also recalled that FCT residents had for decades struggled to secure adequate representation in national decision-making institutions, including the Federal Executive Council and judicial institutions.
He commended Tinubu for addressing some of these concerns, arguing that the administration had demonstrated greater recognition of the people and traditional institutions of the territory.
On the welfare of elected council officials, the minister expressed concern over disparities in the salaries and allowances of councillors across the FCT Area Councils.
He said he was surprised to discover that councillors did not receive uniform salaries, describing the situation as unacceptable.
Wike promised to engage the relevant officials of the FCT Administration to examine the issue and explore ways of addressing the disparity.
“I was shocked when I asked the former chairman what the salary of councillors in the FCT was, and they don’t even earn the same. I said, why? They said that was how it was. That is not acceptable,” he said.
He added that he would direct the Permanent Secretary to examine the matter and determine possible measures to ensure fairness in the remuneration of councillors.
The minister also announced plans to promote greater participation of women in the political and administrative structures of the FCT, saying women should have more opportunities to occupy elective and leadership positions.
He stressed that the initiative was not intended to undermine men but to ensure that women, including wives and daughters of residents, were adequately represented in governance.
“What I want to build for the FCT generally is to improve the number of women so that we can promote the inclusion of women. I am not denying the men their jobs. I am only saying that our wives and daughters should be part of the system,” he said.
Wike further called on the six Area Council chairmen and political leaders across party lines to sustain their cooperation in the interest of development and good governance.
He commended the council chairmen for agreeing to work together despite their different political affiliations, noting that political parties should serve as vehicles for development rather than instruments of division.
According to him, political differences should not prevent elected leaders from collaborating to improve the welfare of residents.
“Isn’t a party a vehicle that you enter intentionally to go where you are going? When you get there, you talk about development, good governance and how you can bring welfare to your people,” he said.
The minister also advised the Area Council chairmen, particularly those seeking re-election, not to allow the privileges of public office to distance them from the people they were elected to serve.
Drawing from his experience as a former local government chairman and former president of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Wike said public officeholders must remain accessible, accountable and committed to addressing the needs of their communities.
He urged them to maintain good relationships with youths, women, traditional rulers and other community stakeholders, warning that neglecting the people could undermine their political future.
On infrastructure, Wike assured residents that the administration would ensure the completion of ongoing road projects across the Area Councils, disclosing that he was prepared to replace contractors who lacked the capacity to deliver assigned projects.
He specifically referred to a road project in the area, saying the contractor handling it lacked the necessary capacity and that he had considered cancelling the contract and reassigning it to a more competent company.
The minister also assured the chairmen of Abaji and Kuje that outstanding road and bridge projects in their respective areas would receive attention.
He maintained that his administration would not compromise on project delivery, even when doing so required taking decisions that might offend some interests.
Wike urged residents to judge the government by visible achievements and the delivery of projects rather than political promises, insisting that the FCT was already witnessing changes in its institutional structure and development priorities.
The meeting was attended by the chairman of Kwali Area Council, Nuhu Daniel Kwali; the Etsu of Kwali, HRH Luka Ayedoo Nizassan III; other traditional rulers, councillors, former council chairmen and political stakeholders from the six Area Councils of the FCT.
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