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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, on Thursday took a swipe at former Senate President David Mark over what he described as his poor infrastructure record while in office, arguing that the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in road infrastructure within three years had surpassed what was accomplished during Mark’s tenure in leadership positions.

Wike spoke at the commissioning of the Interchange at Arterial Road N16–Ring Road II Junction linking Jahi and Gwarimpa districts in Abuja, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The minister’s remarks came in response to recent criticisms from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which he said had nonetheless acknowledged the administration’s achievements in road infrastructure.

“ADC has conceded that in terms of road infrastructure, Mr. President has done very, very well,” Wike said. “Without roads, you cannot go to hospital, you cannot go to school, and you cannot go to farm. Roads are the bedrock of development in any society.”

Turning his attention to David Mark, whom he identified as chairman of a faction of a ADC, Wike questioned the former Senate President’s record on infrastructure delivery during his eight years in office.

According to him, the Akwanga-Makurdi road remained in deplorable condition despite being awarded during Mark’s tenure as Senate President under a ruling party’s government.

“The poor people could not afford to travel to Makurdi because there was no road. But David Mark, as Senate President then was flying helicopters,” Wike said.

“Today, because of the intervention of this administration, people can drive freely to Makurdi and Otukpo. The same David Mark, who once relied on helicopters can now travel by road too.”

The minister argued that the Tinubu administration had demonstrated what could be achieved through political will and commitment to continuity in governance.

He noted that the Jahi-Gwarimpa interchange project, commissioned on Thursday, was awarded before the current administration took office but had received no mobilisation or significant progress until the present government intervened.

“One of the problems of development in Nigeria is that new administrations often abandon projects initiated by their predecessors.

“But President Tinubu has shown that government is a continuum. What matters is completing projects for the benefit of the people, regardless of who awarded them,” he said.

Wike disclosed that residents of the area had long doubted the project would ever be completed, describing its delivery as a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory.

He also rejected claims that the administration’s development efforts were limited to road construction, citing investments in water infrastructure across satellite towns.

The minister recalled the recent commissioning of water projects in Karu and announced that a similar project in Bwari would be inaugurated on July 14.

“It is not correct to say we are only doing roads,” he said.

“In Karu, we commissioned water supply infrastructure, and by July 14 we will commission another major water project in Bwari. These are projects designed to improve the lives of ordinary people.”

Wike challenged critics to point to comparable investments in satellite towns during previous administrations, insisting that the Renewed Hope Agenda was delivering tangible benefits across the FCT.

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The presidency has officially confirmed that plans are underway to alter the current national minimum wage configuration because the current economic situation has made the baseline salary unsustainable.

Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, made this disclosure while speaking in Abuja on Thursday during an event organized by a group called Working People United.

According to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the present N70,000 threshold established under President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2024 is no longer capable of meeting the practical economic demands faced by citizens across the nation.

Addressing the gathering, the president’s representative pointed out that the current fiscal environment necessitates a thorough re-evaluation of what constitutes a living baseline for Nigerian workers.

He noted that the “N70,000 wage, which was a milestone in 2024 must be honestly reassessed against today’s realities,” signaling a strong commitment from the executive arm to reopen discussions surrounding statutory labor compensation.

Gbajabiamila assured organized labor groups that the administration does not view workers as adversaries but rather as key contributors to the progress of the country.

He emphasized that the government plans to approach the upcoming negotiations with a high level of empathy and cooperation.

“I can confirm to you that when the time comes to begin the process of reviewing the national minimum wage, this administration will approach that endeavor not as an adversary of Labour, but as a partner,” he said.

He further re-iterated the commitment of the president to human capital development and fair treatment of the workforce.

“President Tinubu has said time and again that the custodians of the nation’s machinery deserve a fair and commensurate wage, and as you all well know by now, this is the president who means precisely what he says and does exactly what he means,” Gbajabiamila stated, defending the president’s record on labor issues.

While urging trade unions and workers to maintain a peaceful posture, the Chief of Staff maintained that sustainable national growth requires an ongoing collaboration rather than perpetual conflict.

He mentioned that “It must be said that good governance is not a performance stage by government for the benefit of a passive audience, it’s a partnership between those who govern and those who are governed.”

He also emphasized that the relationship between the ruling political class and the working population remains the most crucial foundation for industrial harmony.

“No where is that partnership more vital than the relationship between government and the working people of Nigeria,” he added.

Concluding his address, the former lawmaker appealed directly to union leaders to choose the path of dialogue over strikes and industrial actions, which often cripple the national economy.

“It is with this understanding in mind that I ask the leaders of organized labour and the members of working people united to remain what you have so often been at your finest, partners in progress rather than antagonist in perpetuity, let us choose to dialog over disruption, because as we have proved again and again, we achieve far more when we visit together than when we retreat, retreat to our separate corners,” Gbajabiamila remarked.

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President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that his administration was rebuilding the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to build trust and restore citizens hope and confidence in government.

Tinubu made the remarks in Abuja on Thursday, while inaugurating the newly constructed Interchange at the intersection between Arterial Road N16 with the Ring Road II, linking Jahi District to Gwarinpa District.

Represented by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President noted that “Abuja is changing.”

He said: “One interchange at a time, one road at a time, we are rebuilding trust and restoring hope. Together, we will build a country where every citizen can move freely, live safely, and prosper.

“This intersection used to choke Abuja. Gridlock stretched from Maitama to Gishiri, from Jahi to Gwarimpa. Hours were lost, fuel was wasted and businesses were delayed.

“Today, that story ends. This interchange opens up critical districts of the FCT and connects them smoothly to the rest of the territory.”

Tinubu described infrastructure as the foundation of prosperity and roads as the arteries of a nation saying, “when we connect districts, we connect destinies.

“That is the logic of the Renewed Hope Agenda: build the roads, unlock the economy, and let Nigerians thrive. The Jahi/Gwarimpa Interchange is proof that Nigeria is not beyond redemption”.

The President commended FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for making Abuja work again, pointing out that from roads to bridges, from city centre to satellite towns, the minister is domesticating renewed hope across the FCT.

“Nigerians can see it, critics can see it and residents feel it in their daily lives. Well done,” he said.

In his remarks, Wike said that the project was awarded, a few days before Tinubu was sworn into office, with no mobilisation. But to show leadership, you made funds available to continue the project awarded by your predecessors.

“Mr President, you have shown that government is continuum. It doesn’t matter who awarded the project. What is important is to complete the project for the betterment and the development of society.

“This is what differentiated the current government and the previous administrations.

“Thank you Mr President for giving us the opportunity to be part of history in changing the narrative as far as the development of Abuja is concerned.”

Reacting to the claim by the African Democratic Congress, alleging that Tinubu government is building only roads while Nigerians are hungry, the minister described the assertion as misleading.

He recalled that just two days ago, Mr President inaugurated the Karu Water Supply Network, adding that another water network would be inaugurated in Bwari in July.

“Let me say that it is not correct that we are only doing roads. It is not correct,” he said.

He, nonetheless, thanked the ADC for acknowledging the road infrastructural stride in the FCT and other parts of the country.

On her part, FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud said that beyond traffic management, the interchange serves as a critical link connecting communities, businesses, and opportunities across Abuja.

Mahmoud said that the completed interchange would significantly reduce travel time, improve access to commercial centres, facilitate the movement of people and goods, and support the growing demands of the FCT’s expanding population.

Earlier, Mr Richard Dauda, acting Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, said that the project was awarded in May 2023 for the full-scope development of Arterial Road N16 from Ring Road II to Ring Road III with two interchanges.

Dauda said that one of the Interchanges was at the intersection between Arterial Road N16 and Ring Road II, which was being inaugurated.

“The Arterial Road N16 is being developed in stages, with the Phase I section completed, that is the Maitama section. The Katampe section, which is the Phase II section, was also completed up to Wole Soyinka Way (Arterial N20) and inaugurated.

“The Jahi District section is still under construction, while the Phase III section, which is the project we are in now, has attained significant progress with the completion of this interchange,” he said.

He said that the rest of the project up to Ring Road III, a total length of 7.25 kilometres in length, would be completed in due course.