By Sarah NEGEDUThe Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has fired back at striking doctors threatening to stage protest at the entrance of the FCT Administration, declaring that he will not be blackmailed into taking hasty decisions.
Resident doctors in the employment of the FCTA had on Monday embarked on an indefinite strike over six months of unpaid salaries, manpower shortages and a backlog of critical allowances.
The FCT Chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, warned that it may take its protest to the gates of the FCT Administration if urgent steps were not taken to address their grievances.
However reacting on Thursday, at the flag-off of the Arterial Road N1 linking Wuye to Ring Road II, Wike insisted that while demonstration is a democratic right, it would not stop his administration from taking decisions in the interest of the territory.
I his words, “The SSS called me, that people said they will demonstrate, that we are paying attention to roads, we are not paying attention to health. I called the Director, listen, demonstration is allowed everywhere. Nobody will blackmail me, nobody will stop me from doing what I think is right. And do it at the right time.”
The Minister explained that the grievances of the doctors were being addressed through due process, noting that some of their demands were already in motion.
“The people who now say, look, they are being owed allowances, fine. We lost our Head of Service; we just appointed an acting Head of Service. And I said, okay, go and check, how much are they talking about? They said oh, they’ve not employed doctors.
“I said chairman Civil Service Commission they said they’ve gotten a waiver, fine. What’s my own? Go and employ them. I am not a doctor, I’ve never thought to be a doctor, go ahead and employ them,” Wike said.
He also pointed out that his administration has made unprecedented provisions for the health sector in the 2025 capital budget.
“2025 budget, for Capital budget for health alone, we put N25bn. Ask them, when did you get our budget? We got our budget July. We got our budget July from the National Assembly. So, each time you see people they won’t ask questions,” he explained.
The Minister cautioned the doctors against mixing politics with civil service demands, saying that while their grievances would be considered, procedures must be followed.
“If the Permanent Secretary Treasury brings the bill now, that this is what the allowances are, what’s my own? Why would I hold it? They will pay. But know that everything has procedure.
“But to tell me you will demonstrate, you will block… I told Director of SSS, allow them to demonstrate but nobody can stop me from holding this occasion today, not one,” he added.
Wike also used the occasion to decry what he described as a culture of blackmail in the country, comparing it with global standards.
“I have never seen a country where we thrive on blackmail. This road is not my road, it’s not Wike’s road, it’s not Tinubu’s road. It is a road that will open up economic activities and improve the welfare of the people here,” he said.
The Minister further drew parallels with global politics, citing protests in the United Kingdom during Donald Trump’s visit and freedom of expression in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This is a country where somebody on social media will say Mr President is a criminal; nothing will happen. You are lucky you have a President that believes in the rule of law. Continue to be lucky. There are those you will meet that you won’t be lucky again,” Wike warned.
