Wike To Striking Workers: Obey Court Order, Allow Peace To Reign

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT), Nyesom Wike, has appealed to striking workers and civil servants to embrace dialogue, respect the rule of law, and allow peace to reign for the development of the nation’s capital.

The appeal came during the inauguration and presentation of 12 new ambulances to hospitals across the FCT, an event initially meant to highlight healthcare improvements but which became a platform for addressing simmering industrial tensions.

Wike, while celebrating the health sector milestone, shifted focus to the ongoing dispute with some staff unions.

He expressed frustration with what he termed a refusal to engage in good-faith negotiation.

“The whole essence is to have dialogue. If you make a request or a demand of five items, and the government says okay, we can take up these three items now. If you are really sincere, there is no way you will not accept.

“But when you leave it and begin to join us as politicians, we will first treat you as politicians. I can’t treat you as a minister, and as a political opponent trying to run the administration down.

“It is unfortunate. People say we ought to obey court order. That means we are a lawless society,” Wike said.

He defended his administration’s decision to seek legal redress in the face of industrial action.

“We did not take laws into our hands. All we said was, okay, let us go and see who is wrong and who is right. And we are still open for dialogue.

“Forget this thing. You go and block the gates. Say you will not obey court order. Let me advise you. It depends on whom you are dealing with.

“By the time we go for contempt of those who are blocking or those who wrote letter that they will not obey the court order, then you will see the difference,” he said.

The minister also defended his administration’s record, which he felt was being unfairly maligned.

He listed the creation of a Civil Service Commission, the appointment of Permanent Secretaries, and the establishment of a Head of Service for the FCTA, all firsts in the territory’s history.

“Before this administration came. They have never had head of service before. They have never had their own civil service commission before. Today, the staff are the ones enjoying it.

“Nobody has said, oh, this government, you have done well. You know how human beings are very ungrateful,” he said.

He provided a detailed financial justification, revealing that the FCT survives on just 1 percent of the federal allocation, which is insufficient to cover its monthly wage bill of over N12 billion.

Wike claimed to have tripled the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N9 billion to N30 billion monthly, funds used to augment salaries, clear inherited allowance debts, and finance infrastructure projects like roads and the newly commissioned ambulances.

“The moment you see 5 billion Naira in the account, you remember that. Nobody can just bring out the whole money and pay allowances and wages. How will we buy these vehicles? How will we construct the roads?” he said.

The minister later extended an olive branch while reiterating his commitment to the rule of law.

“All of us are from this country. And we have a right to stay wherever we want to stay. Nobody will sit to say, look, you are not entitled to get what you are entitled to. Nobody will do that. Except that person will be an extremist.

“So I appeal to all of you to have a reconsideration and allow peace to arrive at the development of our city,” he said.

Earlier, the mandate secretary for Health and Environmental Services, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, set the tone, describing the commissioning as “a significant milestone in strengthening emergency healthcare delivery in this city.”

“This initiative goes beyond the provision of just ambulances. It reflects our commitment to people-centered governance, emergency preparedness, and improved health outcomes for all who reside in the FCT,” he said.

She highlighted the administration’s holistic view of health systems, noting investments in infrastructure, human resources, and timely payment of outstanding allowances.

“I can confidently say that FCT is the only state that has paid all these allowances up to date,” she declared, citing the clearance of 13 months of hazard allowance, wage awards, and the medical residency training fund, some of which dated back to 2021.

Fasawe also drew a direct link between the Minister’s flagship road projects and healthcare efficacy.

“In areas like Abaji, Kwali, Gwagwalada… a journey that used to be one and a half hours, is now about 30 minutes. These ambulances need good roads to be effective,” she said.

The event culminated in the symbolic handover of the ambulance keys to representatives of the benefiting hospitals, marking a tangible upgrade to the FCT’s emergency medical response capacity.

The 12 ambulances are expected to be deployed immediately to enhance service delivery and reduce emergency response times across the territory.