THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described the ongoing strike declared by the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as politically motivated, threatening to enforce “no work, no pay” policy against the workers.
Wike stated this on Friday, October 9, at a press briefing in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with security chiefs and chairmen of the six FCT area councils.
“We want to state categorically and let it be known to the public that this so-called strike declaration is political, and we will not accept it. We will not accept it because there is no basis for anybody to call for a strike. We don’t have any issue with anybody, either be it area council local education primary authority, or be it secondary schools; we have no issues,” Wike claimed.
The minister accused the labour leadership of failing to consult relevant authorities before declaring the strike, arguing that the action was an attempt to create a political crisis in the Territory.
“And you can see his interest trying to see that FCT is in crisis, and then wants to use it as a political tool that FCT teachers are at home, and nobody is teaching students; how can you now come and vote for a government when the pupils are at home? We cannot accept that blackmail. We won’t accept it. I’ve told everybody, and I’ve told Labour, look, if you want to involve yourself in politics, you are free to, but then excuse yourself from the leadership of the union, so you don’t politicise it,” he said.
The minister noted that the administration would immediately implement the “no work, no pay” policy across the area councils, warning that workers who stayed away from their duties during the strike would face the consequences.
Wike argued that the administration was already addressing the issues raised by the striking workers and questioned the need for industrial action while discussions and implementation of agreements were ongoing.
He also alleged that major education-related unions, including the Senior Secondary School Teachers and the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), had distanced themselves from the strike because agreements with the administration were being implemented.
Wike questioned the neutrality of the FCT NLC chairman, Stephen Knabayi, alleging that his political affiliations influenced the decision to call the strike.
The minister said Knabayi had contested an area council election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing him of attempting to use the strike to portray the FCT Administration negatively.
He further alleged that keeping pupils out of school could be used as a political argument against the government during future elections.
Wike urged labour leaders involved in partisan politics to relinquish their union leadership positions rather than allow political interests to influence industrial relations.
“If you want to involve yourself in politics, you are free to, but then excuse yourself from the leadership of the union, so you don’t politicise it,” he added.
The ICIR reported that the NLC, FCT Council, directed all workers in the FCT Administration, including those in the private sector, to commence an indefinite strike from Wednesday.
The directive followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to Wike over unresolved labour disputes and policy grievances affecting teachers.
The congress explained that the industrial action became necessary after the FCT Administration failed to meet the workers’ demands, and identified one of the demands as the abolition of the vacancy precondition for teachers’ promotions, which he described as the primary cause of career stagnation and demoralisation.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.