The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to striking workers in the FCT Administration, saying those who refuse to comply with a court order to end the industrial action will face severe legal and administrative consequences.
The warning came shortly after the National Industrial Court ordered the suspension of the strike that has disrupted government services in the nation’s capital for over a week. The court’s decision followed a legal challenge by the FCT Minister, who asked the court to compel workers to return to duty.
Addressing reporters in Abuja, Wike made it clear that his administration would no longer tolerate the disruption of public operations. He said the strike which has affected the FCTA Secretariat and several agencies must end immediately in line with the court order or risk sanctions.
To demonstrate his commitment to workers’ welfare, Wike announced that he had approved over ₦12 billion for the payment of January salaries. Despite this, he described the continuation of the strike as “unjustifiable” and alleged that the protest had been “hijacked” by political interests rather than focusing on genuine grievances.
The minister also pushed back against social media rumours claiming he had been forced out of his office by protesting workers, saying his brief departure from the secretariat was official business as he saw President Bola Tinubu off at the airport.
Wike accused some senior officials within the FCTA of encouraging the strike and undermining government efforts. He warned that any attempt to lock government gates again would be met with a firm response, stressing that the law must be upheld.
On workers’ demands for direct access to the minister, Wike said that union leaders have already been in regular dialogue with FCTA management, and that direct meetings with him were not a prerequisite for negotiations.
The dispute has drawn in support from other unions, including the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), which directed its members to join the action in solidarity. Workers have cited unpaid entitlements, promotion arrears, and poor working conditions as core issues behind the strike.
The National Industrial Court’s ruling, citing the Trade Disputes Act, held that industrial action must be suspended once a dispute is brought before it, a judgement that now stands until the substantive case is heard in March 2026.
