Mr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), reminded FCT employees that the strike dispute was still pending in court and encouraged them to follow court directives.
Wike made this statement on Thursday while delivering twelve brand-new ambulances to FCT hospitals in Abuja.
The statement was made in reaction to the Joint Union Action Committee’s (JUAC) action by the union leaders of the FCT workers.
According to reports, JUAC ordered FCT employees to resume their walkout, which they started on January 19, due to unresolved welfare issues, on Wednesday.
The National Industrial Court’s decision on January 27, which ordered the workers to halt the strike and postponed the case until March 23, was appealed and followed by the directive.
Through Femi Falana, SAN, its principal counsel, the union appealed the industrial court’s ruling.
In response, Wike contended that “there is not necessarily a stay of execution just because I find notice of appeal.”
It’s regrettable when individuals claim they won’t follow court directions. We are therefore a lawless society.
“You go and declare that you won’t follow the court’s order while blocking the gates. Allow me to counsel you. Who you are interacting with will determine this.
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You’ll see the difference when we file a contempt of court case against people who are obstructing our gates or who have written letters stating that they will not follow the court’s order.
“We simply said, ‘Let’s go and see who is wrong and who is right.’ We did not enact laws.”
“We are still willing to have conversations, but no one should endanger the lives of others.”
The Minister added that the workers’ concerns were being handled, adding that the majority of the difficulties have been remedied.
For instance, if you seek or demand five things, and the government answers, “Okay, we can take up these three items, after which we take up the other two.”
“There is no way you won’t accept if you are truly sincere and there isn’t any goal behind it.
However, we will start treating you like politicians when you stop talking and start acting like one. I can’t treat you as a worker; instead, I have to treat you like a political rival who is attempting to undermine the administration by exploiting certain individuals.
“No government will, of course, close its eyes and let that happen,” he declared.
He emphasized that no one could tackle every issue at once and reassured the staff that the issues facing the FCT Administration were being addressed one by one.
“The main idea is to have conversations about issues and say things like, ‘I can solve this today, leave this for me tomorrow, and I’ll be able to solve that tomorrow.
No one can fix every issue we face, and issues will arise for as long as we are alive.
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“What matters is that you are concentrating and making the most effort possible. When you leave the office, someone else will pick up where you left off,” he continued.
He noted that FCTA employees had retired as directors prior to President Bola Tinubu’s government, but they might now become permanent secretaries.
The establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission by the Tinubu administration, he continued, was another reform.
