The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned that any worker of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) who fails to resume duty on Wednesday, January 28, will face disciplinary action.
Wike issued the warning on Tuesday while briefing journalists in Abuja, shortly after the National Industrial Court ordered FCTA workers to suspend their ongoing strike.
According to the minister, the government would enforce the court order strictly and would not tolerate any attempt to obstruct official activities.
“From tomorrow, if you do not come to work, we are going to apply the big stick,” Wike said. “If anyone attempts to block the gate, we will make that person a scapegoat. The law must take its place.”
The minister disclosed that his administration had engaged extensively with labour unions, noting that several of their grievances had already been addressed.
“We have met with the unions and all their grievances have been tabled,” he said, adding that security agencies and FCT management had made repeated efforts to resolve the issues through dialogue, without success.
Wike questioned the continued strike action, stating that the government had met 10 out of the 14 demands presented by the workers.
“If the workers made 14 demands and the government has addressed 10 of them, what then is the issue?” he asked.
FCTA workers commenced an indefinite strike last week, citing the authorities’ failure to address longstanding labour and welfare concerns.
The industrial action led to the shutdown of activities across major government offices in Abuja.
Following the strike, the FCT Administration instituted legal action against the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC).
On Tuesday, the National Industrial Court in Abuja ordered the workers to suspend the strike.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Emmanuel Subilim held that while the dispute qualified as a trade dispute, the workers’ right to industrial action was not absolute.
The court ruled that once a dispute has been referred to the National Industrial Court, any ongoing strike must cease pending the determination of the case.
