The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has resolved most of the issues raised by its workers, insisting that 10 out of the 14 demands that triggered the ongoing indefinite strike have already been addressed.
This was disclosed on Monday in Abuja by Mr. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, who said the remaining four demands were receiving attention and would be resolved through dialogue.
According to Olayinka, not all workers are participating in the strike, noting that some unions, including the Law Officers Association of Nigeria, have formally distanced themselves from the industrial action. He said such workers should be allowed unhindered access to their offices to carry out their duties.
He also revealed that the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCTA), had written to the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, commending his leadership and commitment to workers’ welfare. The doctors, he said, acknowledged the payment of the long-outstanding 13-month hazard allowance arrears and the one-month wage award.
Olayinka explained that senior officials of the FCTA have engaged union leaders in several meetings, including sessions held over the weekend. At a meeting with the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) on January 16, the unions’ demands and the minister’s interventions were extensively discussed.
He stressed that the minister never showed unwillingness to address any of the issues raised, adding that JUAC was advised to embrace dialogue rather than industrial action, as many of the outstanding matters were already being resolved.
Among the key demands, Olayinka said payment of the five-month wage award had commenced, while the 13-month hazard allowance and 22-month rural allowance owed to health workers had been fully paid.
On promotion arrears, he disclosed that N286.17 million covering 724 officers across 24 Secretariats, Departments and Agencies was approved by the minister in December 2025 and is currently being processed for payment.
Addressing concerns over the alleged illegal elongation of tenure of retired Directors and Permanent Secretaries, Olayinka said the issue had been resolved and assured workers of strict adherence to the Public Service Rules.
He added that issues relating to training and retraining of staff were also being addressed, with all Secretariats, Departments and Agencies directed to submit their training needs to the appropriate authorities for action.
On the non-remittance of National Housing Fund deductions and pension contributions since May 2025, Olayinka said a committee comprising workers had been constituted by the Head of Service to address all related issues.
He dismissed claims of a flawed promotion examination process, saying the figures cited by JUAC lacked official backing and urging workers to await the formal release of results as directed by the minister.
Olayinka maintained that the FCT Minister had demonstrated strong commitment to workers’ welfare and described the ongoing strike as unnecessary and ill-motivated, given the progress already made.
He added that security agencies had been directed to ensure that workers who opted out of the strike are allowed free access to their offices to perform their lawful duties.