By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, said there was a security report that Association of Resident Doctors, (ARD-FCT), FCT Chapter, had concluded arrangement to protest today (yesterday), ‘but nobody can stop me from holding this occasion today, not one’.

The FCT Minister stated this at the flag off of construction arterial road N1 from Wuye district to Ring Road ll, in Abuja. It would be recalled that ARD-FCT had commenced strike since last week Monday.The strike follows the expiration of a seven-day warning strike declared last week after months of unresolved negotiations with the FCTA management.FCT Hospitals have also discharged patients from several wards as the strike takes its toll.In a communique signed by the ARD-FCTA President, Dr. George Ebong, and General Secretary, Dr. Agbor Affiong, the doctors said their demands had not been met despite repeated engagements with the authorities.The doctors are demanding the payment of salary arrears, ranging from one to six months, owed to members employed since 2023. They also want the immediate recruitment of new staff, settlement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, and payment of arrears arising from the 25–35 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure.The FCT Minister said nobody can blackmail his administration because it has been budgeted for in the 2025 budget, for the Capital budget for N25bn, which was released in July.He noted that none can blackmail him, he therefore reiterated his commitment to doing the right thing at the right time. According to Wike, “The SSS called me and said that people will demonstrate that we are paying attention to roads, we are not paying attention to health. I called the Director, listen, demonstration is allowed everywhere. Nobody will blackmail me, nobody will stop me from doing what I think is right. And do it at the right time.”I have never seen a country where we thrive on blackmail. This road is not my road, it’s not Wike’s road, it’s not Tinubu’s road. It is a road that will open up economic activities and improve the welfare of the people here. So there’s nothing too special that we are doing because it’s only us that will use the road, no.”The people who now say, look, they are being owed allowances, fine. We lost our Head of Service; we just appointed an acting Head of Service. And I said, okay, go and check, how much are they talking about? They said oh, they’ve not employed doctors.”I said to the chairman of the Civil Service Commission they said they’ve gotten a waiver, fine. What’s my own? Go and employ them. I am not a doctor, I’ve never thought to be a doctor go ahead and employ them. They say oh, we’re not talking about improving health facilities.”In the 2025 budget, for the Capital budget for health alone, we put N25bn. Ask them, when did you get our budget? We got our budget for July. We got our budget for July from the National Assembly. So, each time you see people they won’t ask questions. If you want to enter political party A, you’re free to enter political party A and face me when the time comes. Don’t use Civil Service to play politics, no.”If the Permanent Secretary Treasury brings the bill now, that is what the allowances are, what’s my own? Why would I hold it? They will pay. But know that everything has procedure.”But to tell me you will demonstrate, you will block I told the Director of SSS, allow them to demonstrate but nobody can stop me from holding this occasion today, not one”.Responding to Omoyele Sowore, he said no American will ever call Trump a ‘criminal’ no matter their differences.“This is a country where somebody on social media will say Mr President is a criminal; nothing will happen. You say all kinds of things you want to say, nothing will happen. No matter how you see people criticise Trump, have you ever seen any American citizen on social media, or in the public, say our President is a criminal? Have you heard that?“But here, anybody can wake up in the morning and abuse the President, and we are happy. You are lucky you have a President that believes in the rule of law. You are lucky. Continue to be lucky. There are those you will meet that you won’t be lucky again”, Wike said.Nancy Sabanti Nathan, the Acting Head of Service of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in her welcome address, commended the visionary leadership of FCT Minister and appreciated President Tinubu for his support for FCT administration.She said, “Your commitment to modernizing our infrastructure is transforming the Territory into a striving hope for all.”We also wish to express our profound gratitude to His Excellency the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his unwavering support and dedication to the infrastructure development of the FCT. Your encouragement and strategic focus on building a strong foundation has made projects like this at Area Road possible”.