FCTA Workers Protest Unpaid Salaries, Demand Sack of Civil Service Commission Chairman

Workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) staged a protest at the office of the FCT Minister on Monday, demanding the payment of outstanding salaries, hazard allowances for health workers, and a resolution to the prolonged strike by FCT primary school teachers.

The protesters, who also called for the removal of the FCT Civil Service Commission Chairman, Emeka Ezeh, sealed the Minister’s office, effectively preventing staff from entering or exiting the premises.

The protest followed a call to action last Thursday by JUAC President, Rifkatu Iortyer, who urged affiliate unions to participate in a three-day demonstration from June 30 to July 2, 2025, over what she described as the FCT Minister’s failure to address critical staff welfare issues.

Addressing the protesters, Iortyer expressed frustration over the non-payment of overhead costs, irregular salary payments, stunted career progression for retired staff, and unpaid hazard allowances for health workers.

“We cannot perform our duties without overhead. It is meant for office operations, not directors’ personal use. Sadly, even high-ranking officials don’t seem to understand this,” she said.

Iortyer criticised the administration for failing to address the plight of retired workers, whose career progression was stalled prior to retirement, depriving them of deserved promotions.

She also condemned the arbitrary stoppage of salaries for auxiliary staff and workers in essential services like mortuaries and cemeteries, which she attributed to the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission.

“In this harsh economy, stopping salaries without due process is completely unfair,” Iortyer stressed.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) FCT Chapter, Comrade Audu Akogwu, expressed full support for the protest, describing workers who failed to join as “saboteurs.”

Akogwu decried the suspension of overhead funds, saying workers now buy basic office supplies like paper and pens themselves.

“No promotion for 2023 and 2024, no staff training, and yet they expect productivity. Our children are out of school for over 100 days because of the teachers’ strike, while bailout funds meant for Area Councils are unaccounted for,” he said.

He faulted the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for failing to hold Area Council Chairmen accountable, despite having reportedly released bailout funds to resolve the crisis.

“Wike controlled local governments in Rivers State as governor, but here, the Area Councils seem to operate unchecked. If he truly gave them funds, where is the accountability?” Akogwu questioned.

The union leader warned that if their demands were not addressed within the three-day protest window, a total shutdown of FCT offices would follow.

“This is only a warning. If nothing changes after the three days, I will mobilise all TUC affiliates to shut down every FCTA office in Abuja,” Akogwu declared.