The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), threatening severe consequences for anyone who attempts to block the gates of government office premises or refuses to resume work.
Wike gave the warning on Tuesday while addressing journalists in his office in Abuja, amid the ongoing industrial dispute involving workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC). He made it clear that his administration would no longer tolerate actions he described as flagrant disobedience to the law.
According to the minister, any worker who fails to report for duty from Wednesday will face strict sanctions. He stressed that the government would “apply the big stick” to enforce compliance, insisting that there must be consequences for defying lawful directives.
“When a man disobeys the law, are there no consequences? Must we allow people to flagrantly disobey the law?” Wike asked. “I am giving them this window because I am still in the office today. From tomorrow, if you don’t come to work, we are going to apply the big stick. And from tomorrow, if we see anybody who says he wants to block the gate, we will make you a scapegoat. The law must take its place.”
The minister’s warning follows an interlocutory injunction granted on Tuesday by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja. The court order, filed by Wike and the FCT Administration, directed workers under the Joint Union Action Committee to suspend their ongoing strike action.
Despite the court order, tensions remained high on Tuesday as some irate workers gathered but insisted they were no longer on strike. Instead, they maintained that they would stay at home rather than resume work.
Staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration have continued to resist resumption of duties, even in the face of the court’s directive to halt the industrial action, further escalating the standoff between the government and the workers.
