By: Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
A retired civil servant and labour activist, Comrade Musa Ayiga, has faulted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the ongoing industrial action affecting the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), insisting that the strike is driven by genuine welfare concerns and not political motives.
Speaking in a recent interview aired by Trust TV, Ayiga dismissed claims that political actors were sponsoring the strike, arguing that FCT workers were protesting long-standing unresolved issues which the minister has failed to adequately address.
According to him, the core grievances include unpaid salaries, delayed promotions, lack of essential working tools, and the non-remittance of statutory deductions, describing the situation as unjustifiable under the prevailing circumstances.
Ayiga questioned why workers in other federal ministries, operating under the same national economic conditions, were reportedly receiving their entitlements, while FCT workers continued to complain of outstanding payments.
“He is not the only minister. We have other ministers. Why are other ministers paying their workers and he is not paying?” he asked.
The retired union leader warned that the continued refusal of the FCT Minister to fully engage workers through dialogue could further cripple public services in Abuja, stressing that legal threats and court actions would only escalate tensions.
He described the standoff as avoidable, adding that the crisis would persist unless the FCT Administration, under Wike’s leadership, prioritises negotiation and respect for labour rights.
Ayiga urged the minister to urgently return to the negotiation table with labour unions, noting that sustained dialogue remains the most effective way to restore normalcy and ensure stable governance in the nation’s capital.
