The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that while the FCT Administration remains open to dialogue with striking workers, it will not succumb to intimidation or political pressure, insisting that the rule of law must prevail.
Wike made this known in Abuja while addressing journalists shortly after a court ruling ordered the immediate suspension of the ongoing industrial action.
The minister said the administration respects workers’ rights but has already made substantial concessions to address their grievances.
According to him, the strike is not a new development and discussions with labour unions had been ongoing long before legal action was taken.
He argued that the government had acted in good faith and met most of the workers’ demands, stressing that some outstanding demands were unrealistic.
“The issue of the strike is not new. I believe the administration has reasonably met the demands of the workers.
However, we must be sincere enough to admit that some of the demands are frivolous and go beyond what workers are legitimately entitled to,” Wike said.
The minister explained that the decision to approach the court was not an aggressive move against workers but a necessary step to prevent political interference. He noted that the FCT Administration initially chose engagement and dialogue over litigation.
“When the strike started, we did not rush to court. We believed in dialogue and engagement. But when it became clear that politicians were about to hijack the strike for their own interests, we had no option but to seek legal intervention,” he stated.
Wike emphasized that in a democratic system, industrial action should be a last resort rather than a first response. Drawing from his experience in local and state governance, he said compromise and mutual understanding were essential in resolving labour disputes.
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“This is a democracy. Everyone has the right to protest, but strike action should always be the last option. If workers ask for 14 days and the government addresses issues within 10 days, there should be room for understanding,” he said.
Providing insight into the financial realities of running the FCT, Wike disclosed that statutory allocations from the Federal Government are insufficient to cover the territory’s wage bill and administrative costs.
“If the Federal Government earns N1 trillion, the FCT gets about N10 billion. Yet I just signed January salaries of over N12 billion. That means allocation alone cannot even cover salaries, not to talk of administration,” he explained.
He added that the administration had increased the FCT’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N9 billion to about N30 billion in order to bridge the funding gap and sustain governance.
The minister also dismissed claims circulating on social media that protesters had forced him out of his office, describing the reports as false and politically motivated.
“I was in my office, travelled to see Mr President, went to Turkey, and returned. These stories are pure misinformation,” Wike said.
Highlighting reforms implemented under his leadership, Wike pointed to the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Head of Service as major milestones aimed at strengthening the welfare and career progression of workers.
“Before now, workers retired at director level because these structures were not in place. You cannot expect us to spend all our revenue on wages and ignore infrastructure development,” he added.
With the court order now in force, Wike warned that the era of what he described as “political games” was over. He cautioned that any worker who fails to resume duties would face disciplinary measures.
“Disobeying the law has consequences. From tomorrow, any worker who refuses to resume work will be disciplined. Anyone who blocks government facilities will face the full weight of the law,” he warned.
He concluded by reaffirming the administration’s commitment to the rule of law, stressing that governance would not be derailed by intimidation or blackmail.
“No one will stagnate this administration through blackmail or political games. Nigeria must operate under the rule of law,” Wike said.