The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has declared that the administration is open for cheap dialogue with the placing staff.
The Minister said this whereas addressing journalists in Abuja Nigeria’s Capital after Court docket ruling that order the employees to renew work.
Wike insisted that the administration had considerably met staff’ professional calls for earlier than resorting to authorized motion to revive order.
Whereas making a clarification on the strike, Wike stated the problem was not new and burdened that whereas authorities recognises staff’ rights, a number of the calls for went past what workers have been legitimately entitled to.
“The difficulty of the strike just isn’t new. I consider the administration has fairly met the calls for of the employees. Nevertheless, we should be trustworthy and admit that a number of the calls for are frivolous and transcend what staff are legitimately entitled to,” Wike stated.
He defined that the FCT Administration initially opted for dialogue moderately than confrontation, noting that authorities didn’t rush to courtroom when the strike started.
“When the strike began, we didn’t rush to courtroom. We believed in dialogue and engagement. However when it grew to become clear that politicians have been about to hijack the strike, we had no alternative however to hunt authorized intervention,” he said.
Based on the minister, the choice to method the courtroom was to permit an neutral willpower of the problems on advantage, moderately than permitting propaganda and misinformation to dominate public discourse.
“It is a democracy. Everybody has the best to protest. However strike motion ought to all the time be the final possibility. If staff ask for 14 days and authorities addresses points inside 10 days, there needs to be room for understanding,” he stated.
Wike, who recalled his expertise as a former governor and native authorities chairman, stated he understood labour struggles however warned that not all calls for might be applied directly.
“When calls for are professional, authorities ought to acknowledge them. However implementation typically requires time. Authorities doesn’t deny professional entitlements, particularly wages,” he stated.
He additionally dismissed claims circulating on social media that he was chased out of his workplace in the course of the strike, describing them as deliberate falsehoods pushed by political pursuits.
“I used to be in my workplace, travelled to see Mr President, went to Turkey, and returned. These tales are pure misinformation,” he stated.
Addressing the monetary realities of the FCT, Wike disclosed that the territory receives only one per cent of federal income, making it unimaginable to rely solely on statutory allocation.
“If the Federal Authorities earns ₦1 trillion, the FCT will get about ₦10 billion. But I simply signed January salaries of over ₦12 billion. Which means allocation alone can’t cowl salaries and administration,” he defined, including that the administration relies upon closely on Internally Generated Income (IGR).
He revealed that FCT IGR had elevated from about ₦9 billion when he assumed workplace to ₦30 billion, describing it as important progress that staff ought to acknowledge.
The minister additional highlighted reforms achieved underneath the present administration, together with the institution of the FCT Civil Service Fee, appointment of everlasting secretaries, and creation of the Workplace of the Head of Service.
“Prior to now, staff retired at director degree. These reforms weren’t in place. You can not anticipate us to spend all income on wages whereas abandoning infrastructure growth,” he stated.
Following the courtroom’s ruling ordering the suspension of the strike, Wike warned that any employee who fails to renew duties would face disciplinary motion.
“Disobeying the legislation has penalties. From tomorrow, any employee who refuses to renew work will face disciplinary motion. Anybody who blocks authorities amenities will face the complete weight of the legislation,” he stated.
He rejected claims that dialogue had damaged down between the administration and unions, insisting that engagement had all the time been ongoing together with his approval.
“Nobody will stagnate this administration by blackmail or political video games. Nigeria should function underneath the rule of legislation,” Wike declared.
The minister assured that the FCT Administration would obey the courtroom’s determination and urged all events to do the identical, reaffirming his dedication to lawful decision of disputes and continued reforms within the territory.
The put up FCT Workers’ Strike: We’re open to reasonable dialogue, blackmail won’t move us – Wike appeared first on Vanguard News.
