The Federal Capital Territory (FCTA) Administration, led by Minister Nyesom Wike, has commenced the full enforcement of a controversial policy that bans civil servants on Grade Level 14 and below from using smartphones, smartwatches, and all internet-enabled devices within office premises during working hours. The directive, which takes effect on Monday, December 1, 2025, has drawn widespread condemnation from labour activists and political groups who describe the move as draconian and primitive.
The policy, which was officially communicated via a circular referenced FCT/DLA/259/III dated November 28, 2025, specifically targets staff within the crucial Department of Land Administration (DLA) and the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS). The directive permits affected officers only to carry basic “torchlight phones” or non-internet-enabled devices for essential communication, effectively severing their direct connection to the digital world while on duty.
Enforcement and Compliance Details
The circular, signed by Assistant Director (Administration) Amaka Ezike on behalf of the Acting Director of Administration, mandates strict compliance. To facilitate the ban, the FCTA management has provided secure storage cabinets where affected staff are expected to deposit their smartphones and smart gadgets upon arrival. Retrieval of the devices is strictly limited to official break periods.
The document claims the enforcement follows a “collective resolution” reached during a staff general meeting on November 18, 2025, where workers purportedly agreed that only basic, non-internet phones would be permitted. However, many staff members, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal, expressed feeling pressured and disenfranchised, suggesting the “agreement” was less than voluntary.
“I am directed to inform all Staff of the Department of Land Administration and Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) on Grade Level 14 and below that Enforcement of No-Use of Smart Phones, Smart Watches, Smart Gadgets etc, within Office premises during working hours will commence on Monday,” the circular stated, concluding with a stern warning that “any violation will attract appropriate disciplinary action.” Management staff are now tasked with ensuring their subordinates adhere strictly to the new rule.
Context: The Viral Video Controversy
While the FCTA has offered no public explanation for the timing or necessity of the sweeping ban, insiders and political commentators have strongly linked the directive to a high-profile incident that occurred in early November. This event involved Minister Wike in a heated confrontation with a Naval officer, identified as Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, over a disputed property site in Abuja.
Videos of the altercation, which showed Wike becoming visibly agitated while the officer maintained professional composure in citing orders, rapidly went viral across various social media platforms, including staff WhatsApp groups. Sources within AGIS suggested that the initial ban, first reported around November 12, was a direct and angry reaction by the Minister to curb the internal circulation and subsequent public embarrassment caused by the footage. The re-issued circular merely formalises and enforces this punitive measure.
Critics argue that targeting employees on Grade Level 14 and below suggests an attempt to control the flow of information from the ground level of the administration, particularly in departments like AGIS and DLA, which are prone to public scrutiny and allegations of land racketeering.
Backlash: ‘Draconian’ and ‘Authoritarian’
The policy has ignited a firestorm of criticism across Nigeria’s civil society and political sphere. The African Action Congress (AAC), FCT Chapter, was particularly vocal in its condemnation, describing the order as “draconian,” “egregious,” and a “stark manifestation of authoritarianism.”
In a statement, the AAC accused Minister Wike of showing contempt for the Nigerian civil service and attempting to “reduce FCT workers to servitude,” stripping them of their basic human rights and dignity. “The notion that public servants can be treated as bonded laborers, forbidden from exercising their constitutional right to freedom of expression, is an anachronism that has no place in modern Nigeria,” the statement read.
Labour advocates echoed this sentiment, arguing that in a modern, digitised workforce, a blanket ban on smart devices hinders efficiency, especially for staff who often rely on their devices for basic research, communication, and scheduling outside of internal networks. They contend that while security and productivity concerns are valid, measures such as restricting network access or implementing stricter internal data policies are preferable to a complete, wide-ranging prohibition of personal property.
As FCT workers adjust to the new reality of leaving their sophisticated devices locked away during the workday, the enforcement of the ban remains a test of wills between the Minister’s drive for total administrative control and the fundamental rights of the civil servants in Nigeria’s capital territory. The coming weeks will determine whether the FCTA achieves its goal of increased productivity or if the policy merely creates a culture of resentment and operational hurdles.
