Offices of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) were closed on Monday as workers began an indefinite strike over welfare issues.
The strike was organised by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), which said it took the action because the authorities failed to address long-standing concerns affecting workers.
According to the union, the strike will affect all ministries, departments, agencies, area councils and parastatals under the FCTA. As a result, most government activities across the Federal Capital Territory have been brought to a halt.
Speaking to journalists while shutting down the offices, JUAC vice-president Musa Istifanus said the strike was necessary because the administration has continued to ignore workers’ welfare.
He listed several complaints, including problems with promotion exercises, non-payment of wage awards, and failure to remit workers’ pension contributions. Istifanus also accused the chairman of the FCT Service Commission of not responding to workers’ complaints and acting unprofessionally.
Istifanus said the strike would continue until the government meets the workers’ demands.
JUAC explained that the strike followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to FCTA management, which began on January 7. The union said the ultimatum was ignored, even though several meetings were held during the period.
The ultimatum was contained in a statement dated January 8 and signed by JUAC President Rifkatu Iortyer and the congress secretary, Abdullahi Saleh.
Among the workers’ demands are the payment of outstanding promotion arrears, completion of delayed promotions, an end to the continued extension of service for retired directors and permanent secretaries, and the remittance of pension and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions.
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