Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has threatened to enforce a no-work-no-pay policy against workers participating in the indefinite strike declared by the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), describing the action as politically motivated.
Wike spoke in Abuja after a meeting with FCT area council chairmen, insisting that the FCT Administration had no unresolved dispute with teachers to justify the strike.
He said the issues raised by the labour union had been addressed and agreements were already being implemented.
“This so-called strike declaration is political and we will not accept it. There’s no basis for anybody to call for a strike. All the things they are talking about have been agreed and are being implemented,” he said.
The minister directed area council chairmen to ask teachers and other civil servants to return to work, warning that workers who failed to report for duty would face the no-work-no-pay policy.
He also said the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Academic Staff Union of Secondary School (ASUSS) had distanced themselves from the strike.
Wike accused the FCT NLC chairman of pursuing a political agenda, alleging that he was a former African Democratic Congress (ADC) aspirant for an area council position.
The labour dispute came amid a separate exchange between Wike and former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, over remarks attributed to the latter concerning supporters of President Bola Tinubu.
Amaechi, an ADC politician, reportedly said in Edo State that only “thieves and mad people” would vote for Tinubu.
Reacting, Wike described Amaechi as a “bloody thief” and a “lunatic”, arguing that a politician who insults voters should not expect to aspire to the presidency without facing criticism.
“A lunatic cannot preside over the affairs of this country! A known armed robber cannot!” Wike said.
He added that Amaechi would face opposition if he attempted to campaign in Rivers State.
“If he continues along this line, it will be difficult for him to campaign in Rivers State. We will make it difficult for him,” the minister said.
Wike also challenged journalists to scrutinise projects and financial transactions from Amaechi’s tenure as Rivers State governor.
He cited the alleged non-construction of a $39m Justice Karibi-Whyte Hospital despite full payment, a $10m fumigation contract awarded to a Cuban firm, an abandoned N68bn monorail project in Port Harcourt and the sale of state power assets reportedly worth $308m.
Wike accused Amaechi of failing to account for public funds and referred to a judicial panel of inquiry that he said had indicted the former governor.
The allegations form part of the escalating political dispute between the two politicians. Amaechi’s response to Wike’s latest remarks was not included in the statement.
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