Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has ordered the leaders of the six local area councils to enforce a “no work, no pay” policy against educators and public workers taking part in the territory’s ongoing industrial action.
Addressing council chairpersons during an Abuja conference on Friday, October 9, 2026, Wike rejected the strike organized by the FCT wing of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), dismissing it as completely unwarranted and driven by a political agenda.
The labour union had previously called for an open-ended shutdown of both public institutions and private-sector operations starting Wednesday, October 7, 2026. That move came after the conclusion of a seven-day ultimatum delivered to the minister concerning unresolved disputes and welfare policies affecting educators.
Wike, however, maintained that the issues highlighted by the labour leadership had already been addressed and were actively being rolled out. He noted that the FCT Administration had no pending quarrels with local councils, primary school authorities, or local education boards that would justify downing tools. He explained that promotions for educators were already in progress, while matters involving administrative directors were being resolved through regular statutory channels.
The minister also asserted that senior primary school educators alongside the National Union of Teachers (NUT) had disassociated themselves from the action, rendering the strike baseless.
Warning that disruptions would no longer be tolerated, Wike instructed local council heads to recall their workforce, stressing that anyone who abandons their duties will face salary withholdings under the “no work, no pay” regulation.
Additionally, Wike claimed that the FCT NLC leadership was exploiting union grievances to create friction in the buildup to the 2027 general elections. Highlighting that the current labour chapter head had previously run for office under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the minister demanded an end to partisan meddling, cautioning that closing classrooms harms young learners and turns education into a campaign battlefield.