Any FCTA worker disobeying court order to resume will be made scapegoat – Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned that any worker of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) who fails to resume duty following a court order will face disciplinary action.

Wike issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking with journalists after the National Industrial Court in Abuja ordered striking FCTA workers to suspend their industrial action.

The minister said disobedience to a valid court order would not be tolerated, stressing that enforcement measures would commence from 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 anyone attempting to block government facilities would be dealt with decisively.

“From tomorrow (Wednesday), if we see anybody who wants to block the gate, they will be made a scapegoat. The law must take its place,” he added.

The minister maintained that the FCTA had demonstrated readiness to engage in dialogue with labour unions, noting that meetings had already taken place between union representatives and management.

“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, Wike warned against what he described as blackmail and intimidation, insisting that such tactics would not influence 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 stated.

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Background

FCTA workers embarked on an indefinite strike last week over what they described as the authorities’ failure to address long-standing labour and welfare demands.

The industrial action resulted in the shutdown of operations across major government offices in the Federal Capital Territory.

In response, Wike approached the National Industrial Court, suing the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) over the strike.

On Tuesday, the court ordered the workers to suspend the strike pending the determination of the case.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Emmanuel Subilim held that while the dispute amounted to a trade dispute, the right to embark on industrial action was not absolute.

He ruled that once a dispute is referred to the National Industrial Court, any ongoing strike must cease until the court resolves the matter.