ABUJA — The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that his administration remains open to constructive dialogue with striking workers but warned that all parties must respect the rule of law following a court order directing them to resume work.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja after the ruling, Wike said the government had substantially addressed most of the workers’ legitimate demands before seeking legal intervention to restore order.
“The issue of the strike is not new. The administration has reasonably met the workers’ demands. However, we must be honest — some of the demands are frivolous and go beyond what is legitimately due to them,” he stated.
Wike explained that the FCT Administration initially chose dialogue over confrontation, engaging with labour leaders in good faith. However, he said the decision to approach the court became necessary when it appeared that political actors were trying to hijack the strike.
“When the strike started, we didn’t rush to court. We believed in dialogue. But when it became clear that politicians wanted to exploit the situation, we had to act. The court process allows an impartial resolution based on facts, not propaganda,” he said.
The minister stressed that while peaceful protest is a constitutional right, strikes should be a last resort, especially when the government has shown commitment to resolving grievances.
“If workers give a 14-day ultimatum and government addresses most issues within 10 days, there should be understanding. Government cannot implement everything at once,” he said.
Addressing rumours circulating on social media that he was chased out of his office during the strike, Wike dismissed them as false and politically motivated.
“I was in my office, travelled to see the President, went to Turkey, and returned. Those stories are deliberate misinformation,” he clarified.
Wike also provided insight into the FCT’s financial realities, revealing that the territory receives only one percent of federal revenue, which is inadequate to cover its expenditure.
“If the Federal Government earns ₦1 trillion, the FCT gets ₦10 billion. Yet, January salaries alone cost over ₦12 billion. That means we depend heavily on Internally Generated Revenue,” he said.
He noted that under his administration, FCT’s IGR has grown from ₦9 billion to ₦30 billion, crediting this progress to reforms and improved transparency.
Highlighting key reforms, Wike mentioned the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of permanent secretaries, and the creation of the Office of the Head of Service — milestones he said had significantly strengthened public service structure in the territory.
“Before now, FCT workers retired at the director level. These reforms have given them a clear career path. But we cannot spend all our revenue on salaries and ignore infrastructure development,” he added.
Following the court’s order suspending the strike, Wike warned that any worker who fails to resume duty would face disciplinary action.
“Disobeying the law has consequences. From tomorrow, any worker who refuses to resume work or blocks government facilities will face the full weight of the law,” he cautioned.
Reaffirming his commitment to dialogue, Wike said the administration would continue engaging with unions constructively while ensuring that public service operations are not held hostage by “blackmail or political games.”
“No one will stagnate this administration through threats. We will continue to operate under the rule of law and pursue reforms that benefit both workers and residents of the FCT,” Wike concluded.
