FCT workers’ strike: We’re open to reasonable dialogue, blackmail won’t move us – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, has declared that the administration is open to reasonable dialogue with the striking workers.

The Minister stated this while addressing journalists in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, following a court ruling ordering the workers to resume work.

Wike insisted that the administration had substantially met workers’ legitimate demands before resorting to legal action to restore order.

While clarifying the strike, Wike said the issue was not new and stressed that while the government recognizes workers’ rights, some of the demands went beyond what employees were legitimately entitled to.

“The issue of the strike is not new. I believe the administration has reasonably met the demands of the workers. However, we must be honest and admit that some of the demands are frivolous and go beyond what workers are legitimately entitled to,” Wike said.

He explained that the FCT Administration initially opted for dialogue rather than confrontation, noting that the government did not rush to court when the strike began.

“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, we had no choice but to seek legal intervention,” he stated.

According to the minister, the decision to approach the court was to allow an impartial determination of the issues on merit, rather than allowing propaganda and misinformation to dominate public discourse.

“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.

Wike, who recalled his experience as a former governor and local government chairman, said he understood labour struggles but warned that not all demands could be implemented at once.

“When demands are legitimate, government should acknowledge them. But implementation often requires time. Government does not deny legitimate entitlements, especially wages,” he said.

He also dismissed claims circulating on social media that he was chased out of his office during the strike, describing them as deliberate falsehoods driven by political interests.

“I was in my office, travelled to see Mr. President, went to Turkey, and returned. These stories are pure misinformation,” he said.

Addressing the financial realities of the FCT, Wike disclosed that the territory receives just one per cent of federal revenue, making it impossible to rely solely on statutory allocation.

“If the Federal Government earns ₦1 trillion, the FCT gets about ₦10 billion. Yet I just signed January salaries of over ₦12 billion. That means allocation alone cannot cover salaries and administration,” he explained, adding that the administration depends heavily on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

He revealed that FCT IGR had increased from about ₦9 billion when he assumed office to ₦30 billion, describing it as significant progress that workers should acknowledge.

The minister further highlighted reforms achieved under the current administration, including the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, appointment of permanent secretaries, and creation of the Office of the Head of Service.

“Before now, workers retired at director level. These reforms were not in place. You cannot expect us to spend all revenue on wages while abandoning infrastructure development,” he said.

Following the court’s ruling ordering the suspension of the strike, Wike warned that any worker who fails to resume duties would face disciplinary action.

“Disobeying the law has consequences. From tomorrow, any worker who refuses to resume work will face disciplinary action. Anyone who blocks government facilities will face the full weight of the law,” he said.

He rejected claims that dialogue had broken down between the administration and unions, insisting that engagement had always been ongoing with his approval.

“No one will stagnate this administration through blackmail or political games. Nigeria must operate under the rule of law,” Wike declared.

The minister assured that the FCT Administration would obey the court’s decision and urged all parties to do the same, reaffirming his commitment to the lawful resolution of disputes and continued reforms in the territory.