By Daniel Tyokua
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused some politicians of instigating workers of the administration to embark on strike despite the government’s tireless efforts to please them.
He said the administration had implemented most of the demands raised by the workers, and there was no need embarking on an industrial action, but blamed political actors for sparking the action.
Wike while briefing journalists in Abuja, on Tuesday after the National Industrial Court ruling, called on the staff to return to work, saying the rule of law must be obeyed.
The AUTHORITY reports that FCTA workers under the umbrella of Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) has on Monday, January 19, 2026 embarked on an indefinite strike to press home their demands.
Wike said the FCT Administration approached the court after preserving that the strike had been “hijacked by politicians”, despite the ongoing efforts to resolve the dispute through dialogue and attending to a substantial number of the workers’ demands.
“The administration was already in the process of mediation when some politicians hijacked the strike,” Wike said.
He explained that the FCTA had made substantial efforts to meet workers’ concerns, including the payment of salaries and the introduction of reforms within the civil service.
Wike revealed that more than ₦12bn had just been approved for the payment of January salaries to FCTA workers, a move he said demonstrated the administration’s commitment to staff welfare.
The minister also cited improved revenue performance as evidence of reforms under his leadership, stating that the FCT had generated more than ₦30bn in internally generated revenue (IGR), which he described as a significant increase compared with previous years.
Wike urged workers to acknowledge reforms undertaken by the administration, including the establishment of the Civil Service Commission and investments in infrastructure across the territory.
“Workers are largely responsible for the lack of development in states, including the FCT,” he said.
The minister also dismissed claims circulating on social media that he had been forced out of his office during protests linked to the strike, describing the reports as false, saying he had merely stepped out of the office to see President Bola Tinubu off at the Airport.
“I was never chased out of office,” Wike said.
Adopting a hardline tone, Wike warned against any further disruption of government operations, saying that attempts to lock government premises would attract severe consequences.
“Anyone who dares to lock the gates again will be made a scapegoat, because the law must be obeyed,” he said.
He said some senior officials within the civil service had played a role in sustaining the strike, saying certain directors were among those instigating the action.
Wike insisted that despite the blackmail and intimidation, “the right thing must be done.
