FCTA Workers Storm Minister’s Office over Unpaid Salaries, Teachers’ Strike, and Welfare Concerns

By Joy Yesufu 

Hundreds of staff under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), led by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), on Monday barricaded the FCT Minister’s office in Abuja to protest non-payment of salaries, suspended hazard allowances, and ongoing welfare issues affecting both civil servants and public school teachers in the territory.

The protest follows a strike by primary school teachers under the Local Education Authorities, which has lingered for over 100 days due to the Area Council Chairmen’s failure to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage. 

In addition, the workers are demanding the immediate sack of Emeka Ezeh, Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, whom they accused of administrative high-handedness and wage suppression.

Speaking during the protest, JUAC President, Rifkatu Iortyer, decried the non-release of overhead funds for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), which she said was crippling administrative functions across the FCT. 

She also condemned the lack of promotion for eligible staff and the irregularities in salary payments.

“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 further criticised the Commission Chairman for allegedly authoring a directive on March 10 to halt the salaries of certain auxiliary staff without due process, describing the move as both 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. Yet, these people perform critical services,” Iortyer added .

Supporting the protest, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), FCT Chapter, Audu Akogwu, slammed the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for failing to ensure accountability among Area Council Chairmen.

“Workers are buying paper and pens to do their jobs. There have been no promotions since 2023, no training, and our children are still out of school due to the teachers’ strike. Where is the bailout he gave to the Area Councils? Who is monitoring how it is spent?” Akogwu asked.

Akogwu vowed to escalate the protest into a full shutdown of FCT activities if the demands were not met. 

“This is a warning. After three days, we will mobilise all TUC affiliates to shut down FCTA operations completely,” he declared.

The protest, which continues through July 2, has left the FCT Minister’s office sealed off, with no official comment yet from the administration as tensions mount among the workforce.