By Sarah NEGEDU
Contrary to social media claims that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, was on Monday forced out of his office during a protest by striking workers, the minister is insisting that the reports are false and politically motivated.
Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress, had picketed the FCTA Secretariat and the National Industrial Court premises on Monday as part of an indefinite strike over unresolved welfare issues.
Viral online videos had shown protesters running behind a convoy believed to be the minister’s, as workers barricaded the entrance of the FCTA Secretariat during Monday’s demonstration.
However, while briefing journalists on Tuesday after the National Industrial Court ordered an end to the strike, Wike dismissed the claims describing them as deliberate misinformation fuelled by political interests.
Wike explained that his brief movement from the Secretariat had nothing to do with the protest, adding that he simply stepped out to bid President Bola Tinubu farewell at the airport before the president’s scheduled trip to Turkey.
“There were claims that I was chased out of my office. That is completely false. I was in my office, went to the airport to see Mr President who was travelling to Turkey and I returned. These stories are deliberate misinformation driven by political interests,” the minister said.
He warned that false narratives were being promoted to create chaos and undermine the government, insisting that the administration would not be distracted by propaganda. Wike also alleged that some civil service directors were involved in instigating the unrest, saying the reforms sweeping through the FCTA had unsettled entrenched interests.
“We are also aware that some directors are involved in instigating these actions because things are no longer business as usual. In the past, contracts were handled recklessly. That era is over, and some people are uncomfortable with the reforms,” he said.
The minister noted that while workers had a right to protest, no one would be permitted to violate the law or block access to government facilities, warning that the administration would enforce order moving forward.
“Anyone who disobeys the law or attempts to block access to government facilities will face the full weight of the law. We will not tolerate disorder,” he said.
