Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant, Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the payment of workers’ salaries amid calls for a nationwide protest organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress.

In a statement shared via his X handle on Sunday evening, Olayinka said, “FCTA workers received their January salary last week Friday, with one month payment of the 5 months arrears of the Wage Award.”

He added that the administration had already disbursed part of the arrears, with plans to clear the remainder.

“Two months out of the five months arrears of Wage Award paid already, remaining three months to be paid with February, March and April salary,” Olayinka said.

The media aide expressed concern over the mobilisation of workers in other sectors for the planned protest. “But NLC is mobilising workers in other sectors, who should be at their duty posts for a protest on Tuesday,” he said.

Olayinka further highlighted that FCTA workers had been diligent despite the arrears.

“Meanwhile, the FCTA workers on whose behalf NLC is organising a protest were at work last week Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. They will be at work tomorrow,” he noted.

He also criticised the NLC for not addressing similar issues in other states. “Also, more than 20 states have stopped paying the Wage Award or have not implemented it at all. NLC has not done anything. It is the FCT that is paying and has paid two months out of the five months of arrears that is the problem of NLC,” Olayinka said.

PUNCH Online reports that the wage dispute comes amid ongoing legal proceedings following an indefinite strike by FCTA workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration Workers’ Joint Union Action Committee, which began on January 19 over unresolved welfare concerns.

Following a motion by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the National Industrial Court orders the workers to suspend the strike. The matter was adjourned to March 25, 2026, for further hearing.

In response, JUAC leaders Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Saleh filed an application before the Court of Appeal seeking leave to challenge the court’s ruling and requesting a stay of execution pending the appeal. The motion, signed by senior lawyers including Femi Falana, SAN, argued that the enforcement of the lower court’s order could render the appeal ineffective.

Meanwhile, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress have accused the FCT Minister of intimidating workers and reiterated support for the striking staff. In a joint statement, the unions described the National Industrial Court ruling as “one-sided” and urged workers to maintain morale. (The PUNCH)

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