By PHILIP YATAI

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has addressed 10 out of the 14 demands by its workers who began an indefinite strike on Monday over unresolved welfare concerns.

Mr. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

Olayinka added that the remaining four issues were being looked into with a view to addressing them.

He pointed out there were workers under various unions such as the Law Officers Association of Nigeria that have dissociated themselves from the strike action.

According to him, such workers should be allowed access to their offices to perform their duties.

“The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCTA), even wrote to the Minister, Nyesom Wike, appreciating him for his exemplary leadership and commitment to the welfare of healthcare workers.

“This, according to the association, was demonstrated by the payment of the longstanding 13 months hazard allowance arrears as well as the payment of one month wage award,” he said.

The spokesman disclosed that top officials of the FCTA have held several meetings with the union leaders, including on Saturday and Sunday.

He said in one of the meetings held with the leaders of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) on Jan. 16, the demands as well as Wike’s interventions were discussed.

According to him, at no point did the minister express unwillingness to address any of the demands.

“An appeal was made to JUAC officials that other pending issues were not severe enough to warrant the declaration of strike action, and that dialogue should be adopted in resolving all other issues affecting staff welfare in the FCTA.

“For instance, one of the demands made was non-payment of outstanding five months Wage Award, payment of which has commenced.

“Also, the outstanding 13 months Hazard Allowance and 22 months Rural Allowance for Health Workers have been fully paid by the administration.

“The workers also listed non-payment of 2023 promotion arrears and outstanding 2024 promotion arrears as part of their demands.

“Meanwhile, the outstanding arrears in the sum of N286.17 million, covering 724 officers across 24 Secretariats, Departments and Agencies was approved by the Minister in December 2025 and being processed for payment to the beneficiaries,” he said.

On elongation of tenure of retired Directors and Permanent Secretaries in violation of the Public Service Rules (PSR), Lere said that the issue had been resolved and assured the workers of strict compliance with the PSR.

He noted that JUAC also raised the issue of lack of training and retraining of members of staff.

He explained that all SDAs have been directed to forward general and specialised training needs to the Permanent Secretary, Common Services for onward submission to the office of the Head of Service for further necessary action.

“Another issue is non-remittance of National Housing Funds deductions and Pension Contributions since May, 2025, which is the function of workers themselves and has nothing to do with the Minister or the FCTA Management.

“The Head of Service has therefore, constituted a committee, composed of the workers to holistically address all issues relating to all deductions and remittances.

“On the claim of defective promotion examination process with a pass rate of about 22.5 per cent, it was pointed out that the figures and percentage presented by JUAC had no official backing.

“The workers are, therefore, advised to await the formal release of the results of the promotion examinations as directed by the Minister,” Lere said.

Responding to the issue of overstay of overseeing Directors, the spokesman said that the issue had been reasonably addressed by the conduct of the 2023 promotion for eligible Deputy Directors.

He added that the results of the just concluded 2024 promotion examination conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission would conclusively address the matter.

“In all, it can be seen that the FCT Minister has made concerted efforts to address the demands of the workers and he will continue to accord them top priority.

“From all indications therefore, the strike action embarked by JUAC is unnecessary, ill-motivated and obviously aimed at achieving purposes other than welfare of the workers.

“This is so, considering all the efforts already made by the minister in acceding to almost all the demands as well as explanations by the FCTA Management in the meetings held,” he said.

Lere further said that FCTA had directed security agencies to ensure that workers who have opted out of the strike have access to their offices to carry out their lawful duties unhindered. (NAN)

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