ABUJA — Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has said the ongoing strike by FCT workers was infiltrated by political interests, stressing that the administration had substantially addressed workers’ legitimate demands before seeking judicial intervention.

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, Wike said the FCT Administration initially embraced dialogue and engagement when the strike began, but was compelled to approach the court when it became clear that ulterior motives were at play.

“The issue of the strike is not new. I believe the administration has reasonably met the demands of the workers. However, we must be honest and admit that some of the demands are frivolous and go beyond what workers are legitimately entitled to,” he said.

According to the minister, the decision to seek legal redress was taken to ensure an objective determination of the issues, rather than allowing misinformation and political narratives to dominate public discourse.

“This is a democracy, and everyone has the right to protest. But strike action should always be the last option. If workers ask for 14 days and government addresses the issues within 10 days, there should be room for understanding and patience,” Wike noted.

Drawing from his experience as a former governor and local government chairman, Wike said he understood labour struggles, but emphasised that government could not implement all demands simultaneously.

“When demands are legitimate, government should acknowledge them. But implementation takes time. Government does not deny legitimate entitlements, especially wages,” he added.

He dismissed claims that he was chased out of his office during the strike, describing such reports as deliberate falsehoods driven by political interests.

“I was in my office, travelled to see Mr President, went to Turkey and returned. These stories are pure misinformation,” he said.

On the financial realities of the FCT, Wike explained that the territory receives just one per cent of federal revenue, which is insufficient to meet its obligations.

“If the Federal Government earns ₦1 trillion, the FCT gets about ₦10 billion. Yet I just signed January salaries amounting to over ₦12 billion. This clearly shows that statutory allocation alone cannot sustain the administration,” he explained.

He disclosed that Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the FCT has increased from about ₦9 billion when he assumed office to ₦30 billion, describing it as significant progress.

Wike also highlighted key reforms under the current administration, including the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, appointment of permanent secretaries, and the creation of the Office of the Head of Service.

“Before now, workers retired at the level of director. These institutional reforms were not in place. You cannot expect the administration to spend all available revenue on wages alone while neglecting critical infrastructure,” he said.

Following the court’s ruling ordering the suspension of the strike, the minister warned that failure to comply would attract sanctions.

“Disobeying the law has consequences. Any worker who refuses to resume work or attempts to block access to government facilities will face disciplinary action in line with the law,” he warned.

Wike reaffirmed that the FCT Administration would comply with the court’s decision and urged all stakeholders to do likewise, insisting that disputes must be resolved within the ambit of the law.