Tinubu: Wike promises N10m reward for FCT Councillors who deliver for APC

By Omeiza Ajayi

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Monday said the Rainbow Coalition will give a financial incentive of N10 million for every councillor who successfully delivers his political ward for President Bola Tinubu in January’s presidential election.

Addressing stakeholders, traditional leaders, and political actors in Kwali, Wike explained that the initiative is part of a broad grassroots mobilisation strategy designed to rally maximum support at the grassroots level.

“For the councillors, you have a task. I will hold a meeting with you again and I will now say the way I am going to mobilize you but I will give you a bet, like what is happening in the stars, it’s a competition.

“Anybody who delivers his ward, if you deliver your ward, that is what the Rainbow Coalition has decided to do as mobilization and support for Mr President, we have to start in the FCT (I couldn’t say so when the president came because they gave me only two minutes to talk). But now that I have time to talk, let me say that the Rainbow Coalition all over the federation, as a form of mobilization for Mr President to win this election, we are saying that any councillor that delivers his ward will come and take N10 million. We want to mobilize dor Mr President. So, go to your wards, go and see your leaders. I know only you cannot do it but we are using you as instrumentality to your leaders. Go and meet your leaders and say ‘look o, there is something that has come. We

must not allow this thing to go. Let’s dekibet our ward for Mr President’. So, that is for that”, Wike urged the gathering.

In addition to the electoral incentive, the FCT minister addressed structural and welfare concerns raised by local leaders, notably responding to an appeal by the Chairman of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria (FCT Chapter), Gambo Hamza.

Hamza had drawn attention to the disparity and low earnings of councillors in the territory – noting a monthly salary of N260,000 – which Wike termed unacceptable.

The Minister promised to engage the permanent secretary and relevant administrative offices to review the remuneration structure, bypassing bureaucratic bottlenecks where possible to improve local governance welfare.

Wike also underscored his administration’s dedication to gender inclusivity, emphasizing the need to increase women’s active participation in governance.

Wike did not also mince words regarding what he described as the historical marginalisation of the FCT. He pointed out the stark disproportion in legislative distribution, questioning how a fast-growing population of six to seven million residents is restricted to only one Senate seat and a minimal number of House of Representatives seats.

Comparing the FCT to other states with lesser populations boasting three senators and up to ten representatives, Wike maintained that structural fairness must be championed to give the nation’s capital adequate voice and equity.