- FCTA Minister Nyesom Wike urged workers to be patriotic, warning that using all government funds for wages and allowances would leave nothing for infrastructure projects like roads and vehicles.
- He emphasized the need for fiscal balance in managing limited resources.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has addressed concerns from workers in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over demands for improved wages and allowances, stressing the need for financial balance and patriotism.
Speaking during an interaction with FCTA workers, Wike questioned the sustainability of channeling the bulk of government resources solely into salaries and allowances at the expense of infrastructure development and public services.
“How will we buy vehicles and build roads if we use all the money to pay allowances and wages? We can’t do that. Do you want me to print money? Be patriotic,” Wike said.
The former Rivers State governor explained that governance requires prioritising limited resources to meet multiple obligations, including road construction, transportation, and other critical projects needed to keep the capital functioning efficiently.
Wike noted that while workers’ welfare remains important, the administration must strike a balance between personnel costs and capital projects that benefit the wider public. He urged staff to understand the financial realities facing the FCT and support efforts aimed at long-term development.
In other news… A video of a 19-year-old Nigerian boy selling plastic waste and cartons to raise money for work tools has gone viral on social media, drawing emotional reactions from Nigerians.
The teenager, identified as Samuel, was seen in the viral clip lifting and dropping bags of plastic waste at a collection point. He explained that each bag, filled with cartons and rubber materials, earned him between ₦1,000 and ₦2,000, which he saved towards purchasing tools needed for his tiling work.
Samuel was later approached by TikTok content creator @bayuztvs, who asked why he was involved in the waste business and who introduced him to it. The teenager revealed that he needed money to buy work tools and that his parents were unaware of what he was doing.
According to Samuel, he had learned tiling years earlier but had been unable to start working professionally due to the lack of equipment. Listing the items he needed, he said:
“Cutting machine, mallet, pitches, and knife.”
Moved by his determination, the content creator offered immediate support. Samuel was taken for a haircut, given new clothes, and treated to a meal at a restaurant. He was also surprised with one of the tiling tools he needed, a new phone, and ₦50,000 in cash.
Overwhelmed by the gesture, Samuel broke down in tears, rolled on the floor, and expressed gratitude. In the emotional moment, he also asked to see his mother, further touching viewers online.
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