The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the immediate implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage for all FCT administration staff.

This announcement was made in a statement issued by Anthony Odeh, Press Secretary to the Head of the Civil Service of the FCT, on Tuesday.

The approval follows the signing of the Minimum Wage Bill into law by President Bola Tinubu in May 2024, which set the minimum wage at₦70,000 after extensive negotiations with organized labor.

The decision comes amid tensions, as the FCT chapters of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had threatened to join a nationwide strike on November 30, 2024. The unions cited the delayed implementation of the minimum wage in some states, including the FCT, and alleged that the Wike-led administration had not engaged with labor unions since his inauguration in August 2023.

To address these concerns, Wike approved the payment on Monday, November 18, 2024, along with three months of arrears for all FCT administration staff, effective from November 2024.

According to the Acting Head of Civil Service of the FCT, Mrs. Grace Adayilo, the move demonstrates the minister’s commitment to the welfare of workers and aims to “ameliorate the plight of employees under the FCT Administration.”

Adayilo also expressed confidence that this gesture would inspire the staff to continue supporting Wike in delivering on President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The statement emphasized that the decision underscores the minister’s dedication to improving the well-being and morale of FCT workers.