The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has directed the chairmen of Abuja’s six area councils to enforce a “no-work, no-pay” policy against workers participating in the ongoing industrial action, describing the strike as political and without justification.
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Wike issued the directive on Friday after meeting with the area council chairmen in Abuja, amid a dispute involving the FCT chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Nigeria Union of Teachers.
The NLC had on Wednesday directed workers in the FCT Administration and the private sector to commence an indefinite strike over unresolved issues between the administration and the teachers’ union.
The disputed issues include the NUT’s demand for the reversal of the redeployment of some directors in agencies under the FCT Education Secretariat, the rescheduling of the 2025 promotion examination and the removal of vacancies as a precondition for promotion.
However, Wike maintained that the administration had substantially addressed the teachers’ legitimate demands or was implementing the agreements reached with them. He instructed the council chairmen to communicate the consequences of participating in the strike to teachers and act against unapproved absences.
“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.
“Enough is enough; we cannot continue with this,” he said.
The minister rejected the unions’ justification for the shutdown, insisting that the administration was honouring its commitments concerning the Local Education Authorities and primary schools.
“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.
“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 stated.
He also said secondary school teachers and some other sections of the unions had distanced themselves from the industrial action because they recognised that the demands were being addressed.
Beyond the disagreement over implementation, Wike questioned the political neutrality of the FCT NLC leadership. He alleged that the union’s chairperson had contested the February FCT area council elections on the platform of the African Democratic Congress.
The minister accused the labour leader of using the strike to create a political crisis and portray the administration negatively over pupils being kept out of school.
“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,” he said.
Wike maintained that union leaders were entitled to participate in politics but should relinquish their leadership positions if their political involvement would compromise the unions’ independence.
“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,” he added.
His directive places the administration and organised labour at opposing positions over the dispute: while the NLC says the outstanding issues warrant an indefinite strike, the minister insists that agreed measures are being implemented and that further disruption is unjustified.
The account provided did not include a response from the NLC chairperson to Wike’s allegations or a fresh statement from the NUT addressing his claim that its demands were being met.
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