Wike Defends Legal Action, Urges Workers To Obey Court Resumption Order

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday defended the decision of the FCT Administration to seek judicial intervention in the ongoing industrial action.

The defense followed an order by the National Industrial Court suspending the strike by workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC).

Briefing journalists after the court ruling, Wike said the administration respected workers’ right to protest but insisted that strike action must always be a last resort.

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

Wike noted that the FCT Administration initially relied on dialogue and engagement, adding that security agencies and government officials held several meetings with labour leaders before the situation escalated.

“Security agencies and the administration engaged with the workers, but it became obvious that there was more to the situation. We could not allow it to escalate”.

“This is not my first experience dealing with labour issues. I served as a governor for eight years and as a local government chairman. I understand workers’ struggles,” Wike stated.

The minister acknowledged that legitimate demands must be recognised, but warned that not all demands could be implemented immediately.

“When demands are legitimate…What we usually ask for is time, and implementation follows. Government does not deny legitimate entitlements, especially wages,” Wike said.

He, however, cautioned workers against actions that could disrupt public order.

“Workers must act as workers, not politicians. Anyone who disobeys the law or attempts to block access to government facilities will face the full weight of the law. We will not tolerate disorder,” he warned.

Explaining why the government eventually approached the court, Wike said the initial strategy was dialogue, not litigation.
“When the strike started, we did not rush to court. We believed in dialogue and engagement. We felt the issues could be resolved through discussion,” he said.

He added that the decision to seek legal redress was taken after concerns emerged that political interests were infiltrating the industrial action.

“This is a democracy, and disputes should be resolved legally. That is why we went to court. Let the court determine who is right and who is wrong, not propaganda or false narratives,”.

Wike further alleged that some senior officials within the system were instigating the strike because of ongoing reforms in the FCT Administration.

“We are also aware that some directors are involved in instigating these actions because things are no longer business as usual. In the past, contracts were handled recklessly. That era is over, and some people are uncomfortable with the reforms”.

The minister pledged full compliance with the court’s decision, saying,
“We will obey whatever the court decides, and all parties involved must also comply with the court’s ruling”.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji