Wike draws battle line with striking FCT teachers, workers

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has issued a clear ultimatum to striking teachers and civil servants involved in an indefinite strike declared by the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). During a recent meeting in Abuja, Wike declared the strike politically motivated and insisted that the issues raised have been addressed, with agreed measures already being implemented. He warned that the FCT Administration has no ongoing disputes with area councils, local education authorities, or primary schools.

The minister directed area council chairmen to enforce the "no work, no pay" policy against participating workers, stating that salaries will be withheld during strike periods. Wike dismissed the strike as unnecessary, noting that senior primary school teachers have already rejected it. The minister claimed that the process of resolving promotion-related issues and director-related matters is ongoing and being handled through established administrative procedures.

Wike accused the FCT NLC chairman of using the strike to portray the FCT as being in crisis, particularly before elections, and accused him of contesting an area council election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He urged the NLC chairman to separate union leadership from partisan politics, stating that anyone seeking political office should not hold union leadership positions.