Abuja:Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has labeled the ongoing strike by the FCT Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Nigeria Union of Teachers as political and without justification.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Wike made these remarks following a meeting with chairmen of the six area councils in Abuja. He instructed the council leaders to implement a strict ‘no-work, no-pay’ policy against workers participating in the strike, emphasizing the need to address unapproved absences decisively.
Wike dismissed the rationale for the strike, asserting that legitimate demands, including promotions and operational issues, had been addressed or were in the process of being resolved. He stressed that there is no valid reason for the strike, noting that agreements with Local Education Authorities and primary schools were being implemented.
The minister pointed out that secondary school teachers and other union segments had refrained from joining the strike, acknowledging that their concerns were being met. Wike also questioned the political neutrality of the local NLC leadership, accusing the union chairperson of using the strike as a political maneuver, given his past candidacy with the African Democratic Congress.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the NLC had called for an indefinite strike over unresolved issues, including the redeployment of directors in the FCT Education Secretariat, rescheduling of promotion examinations, and removal of the vacancy requirement for promotions.