From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Hundreds of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers, led by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), on Monday barricaded the gate of the FCT Minister’s office in Abuja to protest unpaid salaries, suspended hazard allowances, and poor welfare conditions affecting civil servants and public school teachers.
The protest, which began Monday and is set to continue through July 2, effectively sealed off the Minister’s office with no official response yet from the FCT administration as tensions escalate among the workforce.
The protest coincided with a prolonged strike by primary school teachers under the Local Education Authorities, which has lasted over 100 days due to the failure of Area Council Chairmen to implement the N70,000 minimum wage.
JUAC President Rifkatu Iortyer condemned the FCTA administration for withholding overhead funds critical for daily operations, which she said has crippled the functioning of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). She also highlighted irregular salary payments and the absence of promotions for eligible staff.
“Workers are suffering under this administration. Overhead costs have not been paid, and even our retired members are denied their rightful promotions. There is no clarity in salary payments; today it’s one amount, tomorrow it changes without explanation,” Iortyer said.
She accused Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Emeka Ezeh, of administrative high-handedness and wage suppression, calling for his immediate removal. Iortyer revealed that a directive from March 10 halted salaries for certain auxiliary staff without due process, describing it as unlawful and inhuman.
“Health workers were also affected, as their hazard allowance arrears remain unpaid. Mortuary workers, cemetery staff, enforcement units, all have been abandoned despite their critical roles,” she added.
Supporting the protest, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), FCT Chapter, Audu Akogwu, criticised the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for failing to hold Area Council Chairmen accountable for the wage implementation and welfare issues.
“Workers are buying paper and pens to do their jobs. There have been no promotions since 2023, no training, and our children remain out of school due to the teachers’ strike. Where is the bailout given to the Area Councils? Who is monitoring its use?” Akogwu questioned.
Akogwu warned that failure to meet the workers’ demands would lead to a full shutdown of FCT activities.
“This is a warning. After three days, we will mobilize all TUC affiliates to shut down FCTA operations completely,” he declared.