THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, is in fresh battle with workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), weeks after feud with Rivers State Governor, Mr Sim Fubara.
On Monday, the striking Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), staged a protest at the National Industrial Court in Abuja over the ongoing industrial action.
The protesters carried placards with the inscriptions ‘Wike must go!,’ ‘Abuja no be Rivers,’ ‘Pay promotion arrears,’ ‘Enough is Enough’ and ‘No working tools.'”
Subsequently, Mr Wike took the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) to court over the industrial action. The suit marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026 was filed at the Abuja division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).
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On Tuesday, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja, ordered FCTA workers to suspend their ongoing strike, granting an interlocutory injunction sought by the Mr Wike and the FCT Administration.
Delivering his ruling in Suit No: NICN/ABJ/17/2026, Justice E.D. Subilim held that although the dispute before the court qualified as a trade dispute, the workers’ right to embark on industrial action was not absolute once the matter had been referred to the National Industrial Court.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the defendants and their representatives from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimants. The order shall remain in force pending the determination of this suit,” the judge ruled.
Justice Subilim further held that where a strike was already ongoing at the time a dispute was brought before the court, such action must cease until the substantive suit was determined.
Wike to workers: Return to your duty posts or face sanctions
Meanwhile, Mr Wike, on Tuesday, instructed all striking workers in the FCT to return to their duty posts from Wednesday, warning that continued absence from work would attract disciplinary and legal action.
Mr Wike made this known in Abuja while reacting to a decision of the National Industrial Court, which directed labour unions to suspend the strike that had disrupted public services in the capital for over one week.
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He said the FCTA had already addressed the bulk of the issues raised by workers before the protest escalated, claiming that the industrial action was later influenced by political actors.
According to the minister, the FCTA initially chose dialogue and mediation to resolve the dispute but was forced to seek judicial intervention after negotiations broke down.
Mr Wike stressed that while workers were entitled to express grievances, strike action should not be the first option, especially when discussions were ongoing.
Drawing from his experience in governance, he said labour demands were often valid but could not always be implemented immediately, as government decisions were constrained by revenue and competing priorities.
He also pointed to institutional reforms introduced under his leadership, including the creation of the FCT Civil Service Commission, appointment of permanent secretaries and establishment of the Office of the Head of Service, which he said strengthened the civil service structure.
Mr Wike dismissed reports suggesting that protesters forced him out of his office, describing such claims as false and explaining that he had travelled on official assignments.
The minister added that although the administration remained open to engagement with unions, all actions must conform with legal processes.
Wike signs N12bn January salary
Meanwhile, Mr Wike approved the payment of over N12 billion as January salaries for workers of the FCTA following the court order suspending the strike.
Mr Wike made the announcement while addressing journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.
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“I have just signed January salaries amounting to over N12 billion,” Mr Wike said.
“If the Federal Government earns N1 trillion in a month, the FCT’s share is about N10 billion, which is insufficient to fully cover salary obligations and administrative costs,” he said.
Mr Wike further said that the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the FCT had increased from about N9 billion when he assumed office to approximately N30 billion, noting that the IGR growth supported salary payments, reforms, and development.
“Previously, officers retired at director level. They can now progress to permanent secretary. These reforms were implemented under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Mr Wike said.
He added that government spending must balance personnel costs with infrastructure development across the territory.
