The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vowed not to succumb to intimidation or blackmail over the ongoing strike by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
He, however, said his administration is open to dialogue with the workers on how to resolve the industrial dispute.
Wike made the declaration while speaking with newsmen on Tuesday after the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja, granted an interlocutory injunction compelling members of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to immediately suspend their ongoing strike.
According to Wike, his administration has always engaged in dialogue with the workers, but after the meeting, they go out and implement actions contrary to what was discussed.
The Minister insisted that he won’t be moved by the protests of the workers who have taken over the streets in Abuja.
Wike declared that the workers can get more civil servants to join their protest, but he won’t be blackmailed, adding that he is, however, ready for amicable discussions on the way forward.
“We have always been disposed to dialogue. Like I told you, they have met with the management, they have met with the agencies. What are the issues? We have tabled them before.
“They say no problem, nothing will happen, but before you know, they go and do a different thing. If genuinely, they say okay, we have seen what is wrong, what has happened, then we talk, but if you’re on blackmail, intimidation, we will not agree.
“If you like, go and hire all the civil servants in the whole world, take over Abuja, it is not my business,” he said.