Workers in the employ of the Federal Capital Development Authority and other federal government agencies under the supervision of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, are currently at war with Nigeria’s most controversial minister, over welfare issues.
It is coming at a time that Wike is trying to wrestle power with his successor and governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara, whose office he has vowed to take back and handover to another person so that he will not be buried politically.
It is for this reason that he is even fighting the ruling APC, including its national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. While his is doing his best to nourish his political structures in Rivers State ahead of the next general elections, his Abuja kingdom is gradually being grounded by angry workers.
Last week, the workers had issued a strike notice to the minister, but he was consumed by his power struggle in Rivers State to think of how to sort out contending issues with the workers.
And, on Monday, having not heard from the minister, they decided to down tools, shutting down all offices in the FCT and not allowing the minister and other officials access to their offices.
The workers are asking for their five months of unpaid wage awards, stalled promotions, and non-payment of outstanding promotion arrears.
They also want issues of the non-remittance of pension contributions and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions since May 2025 to be addressed before they will go back to work.
There has been no official response from the minister. His media aide, Lere Olayinka did not take our calls when we tried to reach him on Monday.
