*Payments Not Enough, We’ve 18-Point Demand, Employees Say
*Security Bosses Invite Labour Leaders
By Felix Durumbah, Abuja
Apparently accurately reading the mood and body language of the about 40,000 workforce who are intent on pressing ahead with a strike threat over alleged poor welfare and service conditions, authorities of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA),led by FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, have caved in to some demands of the irate workers.
The staff members, under their umbrella Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), had last week issued a 7-day ultimatum to Wike seeking immediate resolution of their 18-point long-standing statutory welfare and career needs, or face a strike, pre-hyped by some of the workers as a ‘Mother of all Strikes’.
Among the demands were non-payment of five months’ Wage Award arrears okayed by President Bola Tinubu to soften the blows from the dire socio-economic aftermath of Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy in 2023; lack of training and retraining of staff; non-payment of statutory fiscal overhead to directors for six months of 2025; a low pass rate in promotions; lack of promotion arrears, and many others.
In a last-ditch move, FCTA authorities had invited the labour leaders to a meeting for 2pm last Tuesday at the Administration’s headquarters located on 1 Kapital Road, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.
Usually reliable sources told People&Politics, a paper that is a keen follower of developments in FCTA, that “there was no real headway made at the meeting as the demands were not addressed to the satisfaction of workers.”
The Administration’s team was led by FCT Head of Service, Mrs. Nancy Sabanti Nathan.
People&Politics, however, has now gathered that, in a desperate move to stop FCTA from convulsing into a strike, Wike approved the payment of one month of the five months’ Wage Award arrears.
At least two members of staff confirmed to People&Politics that they had indeed received deposit alerts on the payment in their bank accounts yesterday.
But the workers are not impressed, insisting that one month is not what they are being owed, even as they vowed to ensure all their 18-point demands are met, for guarantee of industrial peace.
Furthermore, Wike authorized the payment of 13 months hazard allowance for health workers -which was settled yesterday too.
Security Bosses Invite Labour Leaders
Meanwhile, about 1pm yesterday, some leaders of JUAC held a meeting with leaders of some security agencies in Abuja, following an invitation extended by the latter over the looming strike matter.
A security source told People&Politics that the meeting was routine ahead of “any threat” to disrupt industrial peace.
The top ranking source, who is familiar with the matter, added that “we met with them to find out what the planned strike is all about; how we can help prevent breakdown of law and order; and possibly, how we can talk to the FCTA authorities to grant the workers all their demands so as to prevent possible crisis; remember that hoodlums can easily hijack any legitimate strike and turn it to something to disturb public peace.”
People&Politics learned that the meeting was held in a convivial atmosphere,with no threats by the security bosses, and the labour leaders were left to go home immediately after the meeting.
As of today, the situation in FCTA remains tense.
Labour is scheduled to meet in a congress of all workers to evaluate all that has transpired so far and take a position on whether to proceed on strike or defer it to a future date.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Wike.
