…Wike approves N12bn for Jan salaries lVows severe consequences for workers who defy court order
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA— The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NICN, sitting in Abuja, has ordered workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, to immediately call off their ongoing strike and return to their duty posts.
This came on a day the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, asked the striking workers to resume duties, after approving N12 billion to settle January salaries.
The court, in a ruling delivered by Justice Emmanuel Subilim, based its decision on the fact that allowing the workers to embark on an industrial action when the facts of the matter were already awaiting judicial attention amounted to a resort to self-help.
According to the court, though the FCT labour force has the constitutional right to embark on an industrial action, such right is not absolute.
Referencing Section 18(1)(b) of the Trade Dispute Act, Justice Subilim stressed that in a trade dispute, workers could not embark on a strike over a matter already referred to the industrial court for adjudication.
He held that in a situation where the workers had already commenced a strike over a matter in court, such action must cease.
Consequently, the court ordered the protesting workers to immediately suspend their strike and report to duty.
The ruling follows a suit lodged before the court by the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, and the the FCTA.
Wike approves N12bn for January salaries
Meanwhile, Wike has asked striking staff of the FCT Administration to resume duties in accordance with yesterday’s order of the National Industrial Court or face severe legal and administrative sanctions.
The minister’s stance followed an order by the National Industrial Court, which directed an end to the industrial action that had paralysed the nation’s capital for over a week.
Addressing journalists shortly after the court’s decision, Wike insisted that the administration would no longer tolerate the disruption of government operations.
In a move intended to demonstrate the administration’s commitment to welfare, Wike disclosed he had approved over N12 billion for the immediate payment of January salaries.
He argued that the continued strike was unjustifiable, alleging that the labour dispute had been hijacked by political interests.
“The administration was already in the process of mediation when some politicians hijacked the strike,” Wike stated.
‘I was never chased out’
Wike also dismissed viral social media reports claiming he had been forced out of his office by protesting workers.
“I was never chased out of office,” he clarified, explaining that his brief absence from the secretariat was purely official, as he had stepped out to see President Bola Tinubu off at the airport.
He characterised the reports as part of a misinformation campaign designed to undermine his leadership.
Adopting a stern tone, the minister accused senior officials within the FCTA of instigating the rank-and-file workers to sustain the strike, alleging that certain directors were working behind the scenes to sabotage government efforts.
“Workers are largely responsible for the lack of development in states, including the FCT,” Wike remarked, citing inefficiencies in the public service.
He warned that any further attempts to lock government gates would be met with an uncompromising response.
“Anyone who dares to lock the gates again will be made a scapegoat, because the law must be obeyed,” he warned.
Responding to demands by union leaders to meet with him directly, Wike noted that workers’ representatives had been in constant dialogue with the FCTA management.
He asserted that direct access to the minister was not a prerequisite for labour negotiations.
“Seeing me in person is not a right,” he said, emphasising that institutional channels for dispute resolution remained open and functional.
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