Minister Vows ‘No Work, No Pay’ Rule Against Striking FCT Workers

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has directed chairmen of the six area councils to enforce the “no work, no pay” policy against teachers and other civil servants participating in the indefinite strike declared by the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Wike described the industrial action as politically motivated and unwarranted, saying the FCT Administration had addressed the issues raised by organised labour and was implementing agreements reached with the unions.

The minister gave the directive yesterday while briefing journalists on the outcome of an administrative meeting, warning that the administration would not yield to political blackmail.

“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. We will not accept it because there’s no basis for anybody to call for a strike.

“We don’t have any issue with the local government areas, local education authorities, or primary schools,” he said.

Wike maintained that key stakeholders in the education sector, including the body representing senior primary school teachers, had rejected the strike, arguing that the action was unnecessary because negotiations and implementation of agreed measures were ongoing.

“The body of senior primary school teachers have said no, they cannot be party to this strike, that it’s uncalled for.

“All the things they are talking about have been agreed upon and are being implemented, so why do we go on strike? They said, ‘No, we cannot be part of this, we have no problem,’” he said.

The minister said issues relating to workers’ promotions were being addressed, while the appointment and deployment of directors fell within established administrative procedures.

He directed the area council chairmen to ensure that teachers and other civil servants returned to their duty posts, warning that workers who failed to work during the strike would not be paid for the period.

“I have directed the area councils to go back and call their teachers and civil servants. If anybody does this, we’ll implement ‘no work, no pay.’

“Enough is enough; we can’t continue with this,” Wike said.

The minister also accused the FCT NLC leadership of pursuing partisan interests, alleging that the union’s chairman had previously contested an area council election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

He claimed the strike was intended to create an impression that schools in the FCT were not functioning ahead of future elections.

“If you ask who the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress is, he was a former Area Council candidate of the ADC in the last election.

“You can see his interest trying to see that FCT is in crisis, and then wants to use it as a political tool—that FCT teachers are at home, nobody is teaching students, so how can you now go for elections when pupils are at home?” he said.

The minister said labour leaders should separate union activities from partisan politics, urging the NLC chairman to relinquish his union leadership position if he intended to pursue political interests.

“We cannot accept that blackmail. If you want to involve yourself in politics, you are free to do so, but excuse yourself from the leadership of the union so you don’t politicise it,” he said.