The industrial action by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) continued yesterday as the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) faulted the claim by the FCTA management that most of the workers’ demands had been met.

The employees commenced an indefinite strike on Monday, citing failure of the authorities to address labour and welfare concerns.

In response, the FCTA, through the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said 10 of the 14 demands presented by the unions had been met, while work was ongoing on the remaining four.

But JUAC, in a statement signed by its secretary, Abdullahi Saleh, disputed the claim, stating that no formal agreement had been reached between the union and the FCTA on any of the issues raised.

The union insisted that none of its demands had been conclusively implemented or independently verified.

It denied that issues such as payment of wage awards, rural allowances, 2023 promotion arrears and compliance with public service rules had been resolved.

JUAC added that the strike had not been suspended or relaxed, and urged workers to remain united until all demands were implemented.

The union also distanced itself from statements attributed to the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD-FCTA), which had written to Nyesom Wike, acknowledging the payment of 13 months’ hazard allowance arrears and one month wage award.

JUAC also opposed moves by the FCTA to transfer responsibility for statutory deductions to workers, saying the move was contrary to public service financial regulations. (The Guardian)