RismadarVoice Reporters
January 30, 2026
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said the Federal Government cannot devote all available resources to the payment of salaries and allowances while neglecting infrastructure development and governance responsibilities.
Wike made the remarks while addressing workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), in a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by his media aide, Lere Olayinka.
The Minister explained that government faces the challenge of balancing workers’ welfare with capital projects such as road construction, school rehabilitation and the provision of essential services.
“Nobody can just bring out the whole money and pay allowances and wages. How will we buy these vehicles? How will we construct the roads? How will we rehabilitate the schools?” Wike asked.
He recalled a period when insufficient funds hampered the activities of a previous FCT administration, noting that the same people later criticised the administration for underperformance.
“And yet, you’ll say, when this minister was there, he couldn’t do anything. How will he do something? Will he go out and print money?” he queried.
Wike disclosed that the monthly allocation to the FCT Administration had increased significantly since he assumed office.
“When I came, this FCTA allocation was ₦9 billion a month. Today, by the grace of God, we have nothing less than ₦30 billion every month,” he said, adding that performance should be assessed based on how competing demands for limited funds are managed.
He cautioned against diverting funds meant for development to settle long-outstanding obligations, stressing that fiscal discipline was necessary for sustainable governance.
“The moment you see ₦5 billion in the account, you remember something that was not paid in 2015 and say it must be paid now. That is not the way it is supposed to be,” he said.
The Minister also urged workers to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration, expressing optimism about Nigeria’s future.
“The future of this country, for all of us, is that our President does the best he can do. But we can also support by being progressive-minded,” Wike added.
Addressing the ongoing strike by FCTA workers, Wike reminded them that the matter was still before the court and advised strict compliance with court orders, warning that disobedience could attract legal consequences.
“It’s unfortunate when people say they will not obey court orders. That means we’re in a lawless society,” he said, adding that the government would not hesitate to pursue contempt proceedings against those obstructing official activities.
He, however, assured workers that the FCT administration remained open to dialogue and was addressing challenges facing the territory gradually.
“Nobody can solve all the problems at once. What is important is that you are focused and doing the best you can do,” he said.
