By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration remains open to reasonable dialogue with striking workers but will not succumb to blackmail or unlawful actions.
Wike made the remarks in Abuja on Tuesday after a court ordered the striking workers to resume duty.
He said the administration had already met most of the workers’ legitimate demands before seeking legal intervention.
According to the minister, the strike was not a new issue, adding that while government respects workers’ rights, some demands were unrealistic and beyond what employees were entitled to.
“When the strike started, we did not rush to court. We chose dialogue. But when it became clear that politicians were attempting to hijack the process, we had no option but to seek legal intervention,” Wike said.
He explained that the court action was aimed at allowing an impartial resolution rather than allowing misinformation to shape public opinion.
Wike stressed that strike action should be a last resort, especially when government responds within agreed timelines.
Drawing from his experience as a former governor and local government chairman, Wike said legitimate demands should be acknowledged but warned that not all issues could be resolved immediately.
He dismissed claims circulating on social media that he was chased out of his office during the strike, describing them as false and politically motivated.
Wike also highlighted the financial constraints of the FCT, noting that the territory receives just one per cent of federal revenue.
He disclosed that January salaries alone exceeded ₦12 billion, while statutory allocation was about ₦10 billion, making Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) critical.
The minister said FCT – IGR had grown from ₦9 billion to ₦30 billion under his administration and outlined key reforms, including the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, appointment of permanent secretaries, and creation of the Office of the Head of Service.
He warned that any worker who fails to comply with the court order to resume work would face disciplinary action, adding that blocking government facilities would attract the full weight of the law.
Wike reaffirmed his commitment to dialogue, reforms, and the rule of law, insisting that the administration would not be stalled by political pressure or blackmail.
