The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has appealed to the FCT lawmakers in the National Assembly to champion the establishment of a special intervention fund to bolster the territory's fiscal capacity.

Wike, who spoke at a media parley in Abuja on Monday, said such an intervention is needed because of the mounting financial burden of supporting the FCT's extensive public service, especially following the recently implemented national minimum wage.

He emphasized that current allocations from the federation account have fallen short of covering essential salary requirements and maintenance costs.

Wike also explained his rationale for withholding some of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from Area Councils, stating it was done to address the unpaid wages and entitlements of workers at the councils.

Although he lacks direct authority to control local councils, Wike said the deduction was necessary after repeated failures to pay primary school teachers their minimum wage.

The withheld funds will go toward settling outstanding salary arrears, a move he described as aligned with public interest amid the ongoing industrial action.

While acknowledging that governance challenges cannot be resolved overnight, Wike reiterated the current administration's commitment to good governance and sustained development.