Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has threatened to enforce a strict no-work, no-pay policy against workers participating in the ongoing strike called by the FCT chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Nigeria Union of Teachers.
Wike spoke on Friday after meeting with chairmen of the six area councils in Abuja, describing the industrial action as political and lacking justification.
He directed the council chairmen to ensure that teachers who stay away from work in compliance with the strike are not paid for the period of their absence.
“We have directed the chairmen of the area councils to call their teachers and state clearly: if anybody participates in this, we will implement no-work, no-pay,” Wike said.
“Enough is enough; we cannot continue with this.”
The minister maintained that the legitimate concerns raised by the unions, including issues relating to promotions and administrative matters, had either been resolved or were already being implemented.
“We want to state categorically and let it be known to the public: this so-called strike declaration is political, and we will not accept it,” he said.
“There is no basis for anybody to call for a strike. We don’t have any issue with the Local Education Authorities or primary schools. Everything we have agreed on, we are implementing.”
Wike also claimed that secondary school teachers and some other union groups had distanced themselves from the strike because, according to him, the government had begun addressing their demands.
He further accused the leadership of the FCT NLC of allowing political interests to influence the industrial action.
The minister alleged that the union chairman had contested under the African Democratic Congress in the February FCT area council elections and suggested that the strike was being used to create political tension in the territory.
“You can see his interest. He is trying to ensure the FCT is in crisis as a political tool, telling voters that pupils are at home. We will not accept that blackmail,” Wike said.
“If you want to involve yourself in politics, you are free to do so, but excuse yourself from holding union leadership so you don’t politicise it.”
The NLC had on Wednesday directed workers in the FCT Administration and parts of the private sector to begin an indefinite strike over unresolved disputes involving teachers.
Among the issues are the redeployment of some directors in agencies under the FCT Education Secretariat, the rescheduling of the 2025 promotion examination and the demand for the removal of vacancy requirements as a condition for promotion.
The strike has heightened tensions between organised labour and the FCT Administration, with both sides maintaining opposing positions over whether the outstanding demands have been adequately addressed.
