The spokesperson to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, in an interview on a national television said that the government is not owing salaries, explaining that while the strike appears to be over unpaid salaries, the only salary that could be said to be pending is the January 2026 salary, which is yet to end.

“There is this mindset that it’s because the government is owing salaries. No salary is being owed. The government is not owing staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) a dime in terms of salary,” he said.

His comments come amid the ongoing strike by FCT workers over unmet demands.

Speaking further, Olayinka addressed the issue of promotion arrears, one of the workers’ demands. “As at December last year, the minister already approved N286.1 million for the payment of these arrears.

“The minister has approved, and it’s at the treasury level — payment is being processed. What else do you want the minister to do?” he questioned.

He also addressed claims that the minister had not granted workers an audience.

“The minister did not give you an audience? He sent people led by the Head of Service to hold meetings — several meetings with the union leaders, the Head of Service, Chief of Staff to the minister, Permanent Secretary of Common Services, and the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission.

Recall that the workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority commenced a strike, shutting down activities across Abuja due to what they described as ‘unmet demands’ by the FCT administration, affecting all FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils, and parastatals.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, said the workers made 14 demands, of which the government has addressed 10. “So what then is the issue?” he asked.

He stated that security agencies and the FCT management have attempted to dialogue with the unions but to no avail, asserting that there is more to the strike than just their listed demands.

However, Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court, ordered workers of the FCTA to suspend their ongoing industrial action pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.

The ruling followed an application filed by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, seeking a court order compelling striking FCTA workers to return to work.

Read Also: FCT Resident Doctors Begins Seven-Day Warning Strike

Justice Subilim held that industrial action, including strikes, must be suspended once a dispute has been referred to the National Industrial Court.

Following the court order, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said any worker of the FCTA who fails to resume work from Wednesday, January 28  would face disciplinary action.

Wike disclosed that his administration has met with the unions and all their grievances have also been tabled.

He stated that the security agencies and the FCT management have tried to dialogue with the unions but to no avail, asserting that there is more to it than just their demands.

Source: Channels

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The faction also removed former BoT chair Adolphus Wabara, ex–national vice chair Bode George, and recently elected national chairman Kabiru Turaki. The action followed a contentious national convention in Ibadan, where Wike and his loyalists were themselves expelled.

Tensions escalated at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, where both factions attempted to hold parallel NEC and BoT meetings.

The Wike-aligned NEC further dissolved the state executive councils in Oyo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti, ordering caretaker committees and new congresses.

Read Also: New PDP Chairman Turaki Pledges Reform and an End to Impunity

Reading the communiqué, National Secretary Sam Anyanwu said the NEC endorsed disciplinary action against several members for alleged anti-party activities, disobedience to court orders, and conduct deemed harmful to the party.

Source: Punch

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Essien told reporters that officers fired tear gas at party members, journalists and even some PDP governors, despite earlier security briefings held between the party leadership and the Commissioner of Police.

He alleged that security operatives gave access to individuals expelled from the party while blocking legitimate members, including governors and the national chairman, from entering the premises.

Essien said the police escorted in a controversial party member after preventing senior officials from accessing the building, prompting PDP leaders to remain outside.

Read Also: Adamawa Governor dissociates self from Wike expulsion

He accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of fuelling repeated crises within the party and urged President Bola Tinubu to call him to order.

According to him, the president must distance himself from internal opposition matters to protect the country’s democratic record. Essien warned that continued interference would “destroy the republic” and stain the administration’s legacy.

Source: Punch

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Wike made the remarks while speaking at a media parley in Abuja, lamenting his exclusion from major consultations despite his long-standing role in the PDP.

He said, “Have I not said it before now that the booby trap you are setting will consume you? The way these present governors are doing, they will bury this party.”

The minister questioned why his exclusion was justified simply because he no longer holds a governorship position.

“I am the FCT Minister. Are you telling me that because I am not a governor, you will hold a PDP stakeholders’ meeting and exclude me, and then expect the party to survive?” he queried.

He added, “Assuming I am not a minister, by the role I have played in the PDP till now, is it right to say I cannot be consulted in taking decisions of the party? Certainly not.”

Wike further criticised the notion that internal crises could be blamed on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the PDP’s problems were self-inflicted.

Read Also: Wike Calls For Unity and Compassion During Eid-el-Maulud

Speaking about the party’s planned national convention, Wike said the leadership had failed to complete necessary congresses and other key processes, which he claimed were hindering progress.

The PDP has, in recent months, faced internal crises and a wave of defections involving top members such as Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Umo Eno. The party is also battling multiple legal suits over its forthcoming convention.

Source: Punch

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Speaking at the launch of a housing project for FCT judiciary heads, Wike said the initiative would end the era of judges living in rented apartments. He clarified that only FCT High Court judges are covered under the plan.

He added that the houses being built for the heads of courts, including the Court of Appeal, FCT High Court, Federal High Court, and National Industrial Court, will become their personal property upon retirement, with full presidential approval.

Wike dismissed claims that such support amounts to executive interference, stating that public building projects fall under the purview of the Federal Capital Development Authority.

Read Also: 2027: Anti-Tinubu’s coalition will fail – Wike

Also speaking, the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the provision of secure and dignified accommodation would enhance the judiciary’s independence, security, and performance. He noted that the move could also help curb corruption by reducing financial pressures on judicial officers.

Fagbemi thanked President Tinubu and Wike for prioritising judicial infrastructure and independence.

Source: Punch

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The Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement made avilable to newsmen, noting the Minister will also commission two new roads in Dakibiyu and Mabushi Districts.

According to the statement, the flag-off and commissioning of projects had been scheduled to take place over the course of one month, from the 18th of September, until the 16th of October 2025.

Part of the statement reads “The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, will this week, Thursday, commence the flagging-off of construction of 12 new roads and provision of solar lights in some major areas in the Federal Capital City (FCC) and Expressways under the Light Up Abuja Programme.

“The Minister will also commission the access roads in Sector Centre B, by Dakibiyu District, and the newly constructed Roads ILS 11 (Esther Bali Street) and MAR 24 (Kez Udezue Street) in Mabushi District.”

Among the projects listed are the procurement of integrated (hybrid) solar lighting in the District of Abuja City and Expressway under the Light Up Abuja Programme Lot 1: Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse, Central Business District (CBD) Airport Expressway, Lot II: Katampe, Garki I and II, Mabushi, Gudu, Jabi and Katampe Extension.

Read Also: FCTA workers begin three-day protest

Others are the full scope development of Arterial Road N1 from Wuye District to Ring Road II; construction of Northern Parkway from Ring Road II to Ring Road III; provision of access road to Bus Terminal at Mabushi District Cadastral Zone B06; Phase II of FCC, full scope development of Arterial N20 (Solomon Lar Way) from Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way) to the Airport Expressway, provision of access road to the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates project site within Cadastral Zone D06, Karsana West District of the FCC and provision of access road bypassing Airport Second Runway from Bill Clinton Drive to Tunga Madaki Settlement with a four span bridge.

Recall that the Minister had flagged off the construction and expansion of water supply to the satellite towns of Bwari in Lot 1 and Karu and its environs in the Abuja Municipal Area Council in Lot 2.

Wike had also flagged off the construction of a multi-purpose sports centre in Kafe District, the Construction of a new Magistrate Court complex in Jabi District, and the emergency reconstruction of the Karu road from the Karu interchange to Customs Clinic junction in Karu site, in AMAC.

Source: Punch

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Key political allies of the governor, including the Chief of Staff to the Government House, Edison Ehie, Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo and the recently sacked 23 local government chairmen, also shunned the election. Members of the Simplified Movement, a socio-political group aligned with Fubara, were similarly absent from voting centres across the state.

Electoral materials reportedly arrived at Fubara’s polling unit in Ward 5, Opobo, around 11 a.m., with early speculation suggesting he might participate, especially following a recent reconciliation with his former political mentor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. However, by the close of voting at approximately 3:30 p.m., Fubara had yet to appear.

Reliable sources told journalists that the governor had travelled to London prior to the election and did not return in time to cast his vote.

Fubara, who is expected to be reinstated on September 18, was suspended in March after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State amid a deepening political rift between the governor and Wike. The fallout saw Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly suspended for six months. Tinubu also appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas as sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs during the period.

Fubara and Wike have since struck a political truce, part of which involved the decision to conduct fresh local government elections, replacing an earlier process that had favoured Fubara’s loyalists.

Source: Punch

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“As far as we are concerned, this election is peaceful, people are trooping out, and at the end of the day, the election has been conducted successfully and peacefully. I do know that by September 18, the state of emergency will expire and the state assembly will come back to their job and we will have a government at the grassroots level,” Wike said.

The minister said the conditions were right for lifting the state of emergency since both state and local governments now had representation.

He added, “The coast is clear for the state of emergency to be lifted, being that the state government has its representative and the local government has its representatives, so we are good to go.”

Recall that President Bola Tinubu had earlier declared emergency rule in Rivers to prevent a political crisis, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly for six months.

Source: Punch

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The peace talks, described as a “reconciliation meeting,” has been considered as a significant intervention of many others by President Tinubu since the crisis erupted and deepened into a near constitutional impasse.”

Onanuga described the meeting, which was initiated by the President, as a “closed-doors”, and was organised to end the political hostilities that have gripped Rivers State for months and to “restore normalcy and order.”

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Wike made this statement during the inauguration of Arterial Road N16, Arterial Road N20, and other significant roads in the Katampe District of Abuja.

According to him, the President’s performance has effectively dismantled any serious opposition alliance.

“Your good work has killed the coalition. I was thinking that, truly, there would be a coalition. The coalition is bound to fail, and it has failed,” Wike said.

He further thanked President Tinubu for approving a 10-day window for project commissioning across the FCT, a deed he described as a strong endorsement of infrastructural development in the capital.

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