FCTA treating workers’ welfare with utmost importance
By Taofeek Lawal, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said it will continue to place premium importance on the welfare of its workers and will address all labour issues relating to them.
This assurance which was given by the Director Human Resources Management, FCTA, Mallam Muhammad Bashir, came on the heels of a 3-day warning strike embarked upon by the workers of the FCTA/FCDA under the aegis of the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC). The warning which commenced last Thursday ended yesterday (Wednesday). Top on the burner of the workers’ demand is the implementation of the FCT Civil Service Commission Act (FCSCA), which makes provision for the position of Head of Service in the FCTA rather than permanent secretary.
Briefing newsmen on Wednesday after meeting with the leadership of JUAC and FCT chapters of the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mallam Bashir said the FCT Administration will address the issues brought forward by the workers but asked for more time from the labour leaders. Some of the issues he mentioned include promotions, conversion and upgrading of staff, pending disciplinary actions among others.
He said, “The management of the FCTA is taking the issues very seriously. We have had meetings with them since last week. We met with the labour unions last week Thursday particularly to inform them of the outcome of our meeting of the 26th, 27th and 28th March, 2021. We have had a long day under the leadership of the FCT Permanent Secretary with all members of the labour in attendance to solve the pending strike. We have made them realise that the problems on ground cannot be solved in just two weeks regarding the demands put forward by the labour particularly the JUAC. Some of these issues have to do with promotions, conversion and upgrading of staff, pending disciplinary actions, some of the resignations and even the reinstatement of some staff and they have been resolved.”
“We discovered that communication gap has also contributed to the issue on the ground. They are particularly insisting on the implementation of the FCT Civil Service Commission that was passed by the National Assembly and assented to by Mr President and sent to the FCTA. This we discussed at length with the Permanent Secretary and the labour to let them know that some of the issues cannot be resolved overnight and they demanded for more time to be given to them under the leadership of the TUC and the NLC,” the director added.
Abubakar Alhassan Yakub and Comrade Amodu Olayinka, chairmen of the FCT chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) although the warning strike has ended, they said the union will continue to press for the demands of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) of the FCTA/FCDA workers through a letter administration.
The chairman of Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), Matilukoro Korode, in his remarks said while negotiation continues, he added that the warning strike is actually to table their grievances before the FCT Administration.
“We are at a critical point, the management would not want to take hasty decisions and we also would want to run into any crisis. As it is, we are leaving a window for a final decision to be taken which will be dependent on what the two labour unions (the TUC and the NLC discuss with the FCTA and I have confidence in their leadership,” Korode said.
