FCT strike: Wike rejects blackmail, says govt open to dialogue

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has affirmed that his administration remains open to reasonable dialogue with striking workers, warning that intimidation or political blackmail will not influence government decisions.

Wike spoke to journalists in Abuja following a court ruling ordering workers to resume duties, emphasizing that the administration had already addressed most legitimate demands before seeking legal intervention.

“The issue of the strike is not new. While the administration has reasonably met workers’ demands, some requests are frivolous and exceed what employees are entitled to,” he said.

The minister explained that the government initially pursued dialogue rather than confrontation.

“We did not rush to court when the strike began because we believed in engagement.

“But when it became clear that politicians were hijacking the strike, we had no choice but to seek legal intervention,” Wike added.

He stressed that approaching the court was intended to ensure an impartial review of the issues, rather than letting propaganda and misinformation shape public perception.

“This is a democracy, and everyone has the right to protest. But strikes should always be a last resort.

“If workers request 14 days and government resolves issues in 10, there should be room for understanding,” Wike said, drawing on his experience as a former governor and local government chairman.

Dismissing social media reports that he was forced out of his office during the strike, Wike described the claims as deliberate falsehoods driven by political motives.

“I was in my office, travelled to meet the President, went to Turkey, and returned. These stories are pure misinformation,” he stated.

Addressing financial constraints, Wike noted that the FCT receives only about one per cent of federal revenue, making it impossible to rely solely on statutory allocations for salaries and operations.

“If the Federal Government earns ₦1 trillion, the FCT gets roughly ₦10 billion. Yet I just signed January salaries of over ₦12 billion.

Allocation alone cannot cover expenses,” he said, noting that internally generated revenue (IGR) has grown from ₦9 billion at the start of his tenure to ₦30 billion.

The minister also highlighted reforms under his 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. You cannot spend all revenue on wages while neglecting infrastructure development,” he said.

Following the court ruling, Wike warned that any worker failing to resume duties would face disciplinary action.

“Disobeying the law has consequences. From tomorrow, anyone who refuses to work or blocks government facilities will face the full weight of the law,” he said.

Reiterating the administration’s commitment to lawful dispute resolution, Wike assured that engagement with unions continues and dismissed claims that dialogue had broken down.

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