The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned that any worker of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) who fails to comply with a court order directing a return to work will face disciplinary action.
Wike issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking with journalists in Abuja, shortly after the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) ordered striking FCTA workers to suspend their industrial action.
The minister stressed that disobedience to a valid court order would not be tolerated, noting that enforcement of the directive would begin on Wednesday.
“Are there no consequences for disobeying the law? Must we allow people to break the law flagrantly? I have given them a window, but from tomorrow, if they don’t come to work, we will apply the big stick,” Wike said.
He further warned that any attempt to block government offices or facilities would attract decisive action, adding that offenders would be made examples of.
“From tomorrow, if we see anybody who wants to block the gate, they will be made a scapegoat. The law must take its place,” he stated.
Wike maintained that the FCTA had shown willingness to resolve the dispute through dialogue, explaining that meetings had already been held between management and labour union representatives.
“We have been disposed to dialogue. They have met with management, so what are the issues? If genuinely they want dialogue, then we’ll talk,” he said.
However, the minister warned against what he described as blackmail and intimidation, insisting that such tactics would not sway the administration.
“But if it’s on blackmail and intimidation, then we will not agree. If they like, they can hire all the civil servants in Abuja; it’s not my business,” he added.
Court orders suspension of strike
Earlier on Tuesday, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja, ordered workers under the FCTA to suspend their ongoing strike action.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Emmanuel Subilim held that although the matter before the court qualifies as a trade dispute, the right of workers to embark on industrial action is not absolute.
The judge ruled that once a dispute has been formally referred to the National Industrial Court, any ongoing strike must be suspended pending the final determination of the case.
Justice Subilim noted that allowing the strike to continue while the matter is before the court would undermine judicial authority and due process.
The ruling followed a suit filed by Wike and the FCTA against the leadership of the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), challenging the legality of the strike.
The court subsequently directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante and adjourned the matter for further hearing.
FCTA workers had embarked on an indefinite strike last week over what they described as the authorities’ failure to address long-standing labour and welfare issues.
The strike led to the shutdown of operations across several major government offices within the Federal Capital Territory.
