Lere Olayinka, media aide to Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says most demands of workers currently on strike have been addressed.
In a statement issued on Monday, Olayinka said 10 of the 14
demands have been met by the FCT administration, while work is ongoing on the
remaining four.
According to him, top FCTA officials have held several
meetings with union leaders, including some held over the weekend.
Olayinka said Wike did not, at any time, show unwillingness
to address the workers’ concerns and consistently encouraged dialogue.
The aide said some unions that have distanced themselves
from the strike action should be allowed access to their offices to perform
their duties.
“The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital
Territory (ARD-FCTA), even wrote to the Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike,
appreciating him for ‘his exemplary leadership and commitment to the
welfare of healthcare workers, as demonstrated by the payment of the
longstanding 13 months hazard allowance arrears as well as the payment of one
month wage award’,” the statement reads.
“Appeal was made to JUAC Officials that other pending issues
were not severe enough to warrant the declaration of strike action, and that
dialogue should be adopted in resolving all other issues affecting staff
welfare in the FCTA.”
On wage awards, Olayinka said payment of the outstanding
five months has commenced, adding that the 13 months hazard allowance and 22
months rural allowance for health workers have been fully paid.
Olayinka said promotion arrears were also part of the
workers’ demands, adding that N286.1 million covering 724 officers across 24
secretariats, departments and agencies was approved in December 2025 and is
being processed for payment.
On the issue of extension of tenure of retired directors and
permanent secretaries, Olayinka said the matter has been resolved.
Olayinka noted that the minister has assured workers of
strict compliance with public service rules.
He said concerns over training and retraining of staff are
also being addressed, and that all agencies have been directed to submit their
training needs for further action.
On the non-remittance of pension and National Housing Fund
deductions, the aide said a committee, including representatives of the
workers, has been set up to address the matter.
Olayinka dismissed claims of a defective promotion
examination process, adding that the figures cited by the union had no official
backing and advised workers to wait for the formal release of the results.
He said the issue of overseeing directors is being resolved
through recent and ongoing promotion exercises.
Olayinka said the minister has made deliberate efforts to
prioritise workers’ welfare, noting that the strike action is “unnecessary” and
“ill-motivated” considering the progress made.
“From all indications therefore, and considering all the
efforts already made by the Minister in acceding to almost all the demands as
well as explanations by the FCTA management staff in the meetings held, the
strike action embarked on by JUAC is unnecessary, ill-motivated and obviously
aimed at achieving purposes other than welfare of the workers,” the statement
added.
The minister’s aide called on security agencies to ensure
that workers who opted out of the strike have unhindered access to their
offices.
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