By Obinna Uballa
Nigerians on social media have criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over comments defending the delayed payment of allowances and arrears owed to workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
The backlash followed remarks by Wike – as captured in video currently circulating online – amid an ongoing strike by FCTA and FCDA workers, who are demanding the implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage, payment of promotion arrears and outstanding allowances.
Wike argued that settling accumulated arrears in one tranche would severely strain the FCT’s finances and jeopardise critical infrastructure projects. According to the minister, deploying billions of naira at once to clear back pay would leave insufficient funds for essential services such as ambulances, road construction and other public infrastructure.
He maintained that salaries of FCT workers are paid promptly and disclosed that more than N12 billion had been approved for salary payments for January. Wike also credited his administration with boosting the FCT’s internally generated revenue, saying monthly receipts had increased from about N9 billion to N30 billion.
The minister further defended high-profile capital projects, including the N39 billion refurbishment of the Abuja International Conference Centre, which he said had already generated about N700 million in revenue shortly after reopening.
However, many Nigerians faulted his justification, describing it as insensitive in the face of workers’ economic hardship.
Reacting on X, a user identified as @OurFavOnlineDoc criticised the minister’s logic, writing: “So people should not be paid for the work they’ve done so that politicians can buy cars. Nigerian politicians are demonic parasites.”
Another user, @XBrianDennis, mocked the economic rationale behind the conference centre renovation, saying: “He used N36 billion to renovate a conference centre that will not generate N36 billion in 10 years. Welcome to the Rumueprikom era.”
Similarly, @emmaikumeh accused the minister of double standards, arguing that while workers are asked to forgo their entitlements, political office holders continue to enjoy their benefits. “The man is enjoying his own allowances as minister. God will judge Wike,” the user wrote.
Others questioned the moral basis of the government’s position. A user, @humbledove, asked whether public officials had considered making personal sacrifices, noting that leaders’ salaries remain intact while workers are told to be patient. “Leadership should start with sacrifice, not speeches,” the post read.
While some commenters acknowledged Wike’s infrastructural achievements in Abuja, they argued that workers’ welfare should not be subordinated to capital projects. Fisayo Ademuwagun (@tolu_7086) wrote: “Even though I like your work, you’re wrong on this. You need to pay people and find ways for Abuja to generate more revenue, not make things harder for people who are just coming out of the economic reform hardship.”
