The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has confirmed that it has addressed 10 of the 14 demands raised by civil servants who began an indefinite strike in Abuja, even as the industrial action continues to disrupt government operations across the nation’s capital. The FCTA’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said in a statement on Monday 19th January that the administration has met the majority of the demands and is actively engaging unions to resolve the remaining issues.
According to Olayinka, the FCTA under Minister Nyesom Wike has held several meetings with leaders of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), including over the weekend, and has made significant progress on key welfare and compensation concerns. Among the interventions cited were the settlement of longstanding hazard allowances and wage award arrears, as well as commitments to address promotion arrears and other outstanding entitlements.
The statement also noted that some workers under various unions, including the Law Officers Association of Nigeria, have dissociated themselves from the strike action and should be permitted to return to their duties uninterrupted, reflecting divisions in union solidarity. The FCTA has encouraged continued dialogue as the preferred mechanism for resolving the remaining four demands, underscoring the minister’s willingness to engage constructively with labour representatives.
Workers of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) began the strike following an ultimatum over unresolved welfare issues, including unpaid allowances, promotion arrears and delays in statutory deductions remittances. The secretariat’s shutdown brought government activities in the territory to a near halt, prompting calls for a swift resolution.
