The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced significant progress in resolving the demands of striking workers, disclosing that 10 out of the 14 issues raised by labour unions have already been fully addressed, while concrete steps are ongoing to resolve the remaining four.
The FCTA made this known on Monday, following a series of high-level engagements between FCTA officials and union leaders aimed at restoring normalcy and safeguarding workers’ welfare across the territory.
Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, on Public Communications and Social Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, said the administration has demonstrated good faith through sustained dialogue, including meetings held over the weekend with leaders of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC).
According to him, the FCT Minister has consistently shown willingness to address workers’ concerns and has not, at any point, rejected any of the demands presented by the unions. He noted that many of the issues raised were already receiving attention before the strike action was declared.
Mr. Olayinka disclosed that payment of the outstanding five months Wage Award has commenced, while the 13 months Hazard Allowance and 22 months Rural Allowance owed to health workers have been fully settled. He added that the Minister approved the payment of outstanding promotion arrears amounting to ₦286.16 million for 724 officers across 24 Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs), with processing already underway.
On concerns over tenure elongation of Directors and Permanent Secretaries, the FCTA said the matter has been resolved, with assurances of strict compliance with Public Service Rules. Similarly, issues relating to staff training and retraining are being addressed, with all SDAs directed to submit training needs for onward action by the appropriate authorities.
The FCTA also clarified that complaints over non-remittance of National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions and pension contributions are not directly under the purview of the Minister or FCTA management. A committee comprising workers’ representatives has been constituted by the Head of Service to comprehensively address all issues relating to deductions and remittances.
Addressing claims of irregularities in the promotion examination process, the administration advised union leaders to await the official release of results, noting that figures previously cited lacked official backing. Issues concerning the overstay of overseeing directors were also said to be nearing resolution following recent promotions and the anticipated release of 2024 promotion results by the FCT Civil Service Commission.
Highlighting growing confidence in the administration’s approach, the FCTA revealed that some unions and professional bodies, including the Law Officers Association of Nigeria, have distanced themselves from the strike. The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCTA), also formally commended the FCT Minister for his leadership and commitment to healthcare workers’ welfare.
The FCTA maintained that, given the level of progress already achieved, the ongoing strike action is unnecessary and does not reflect the administration’s responsiveness to workers’ welfare. It called on security agencies to ensure that workers who have chosen not to participate in the strike are allowed unhindered access to their offices to perform their lawful duties.
The administration reaffirmed its commitment to continued dialogue and constructive engagement, stressing that workers’ welfare remains a top priority under the leadership of the FCT Minister.
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