The Joint Union Action Congress, JUAC, of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has rejected claims by FCTA management that the majority of workers’ demands have already been addressed.
JUAC members commenced an indefinite strike on Monday, citing the authorities’ failure to resolve long-standing labour and welfare issues.
However, the FCTA management, through Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced that 10 out of the 14 demands had been met, adding that efforts were ongoing to address the remaining four.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, JUAC countered the claim, insisting that no formal agreement has been reached with the FCTA management on any of the demands submitted by the unions.
The congress specifically refuted assertions that issues such as payment of wage awards, rural allowance, 2023 promotion arrears and compliance with public service rules had been resolved, describing such claims as misleading.
According to JUAC, the narrative being promoted by the FCTA management is “false, premature, and intended to misinform the public and staff”.
The union further clarified that it has neither suspended nor eased its industrial action, stressing that the strike remains fully in force.
“JUAC has not suspended, withdrawn or relaxed its position on the industrial action because none of the core demands has been conclusively implemented or verified,” the statement reads.
Responding to reports attributed to the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD-FCTA), JUAC said those comments do not represent the collective position of workers under its umbrella.
“The statement credited to the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD-FCTA) does not represent the collective position of workers under JUAC and cannot be used to justify the false narrative that issues have been resolved,” it said.
JUAC also highlighted several outstanding concerns, including unpaid promotion arrears, failure to remit National Housing Fund (NHF) and pension deductions, alleged illegal tenure elongation, a compromised promotion examination process, staff intimidation, inadequate training opportunities and restrictions on the salary payment portal.
The union criticised attempts by the FCTA management to shift responsibility for statutory deductions to workers, describing the move as a violation of public service financial regulations.
“The ongoing strike action remains lawful, justified and in full compliance with labour laws, having followed due process after expiration of the seven-day ultimatum,” the union said.
“All workers should remain resolute, united and committed to the collective struggle until all demands are fully implemented.”
While reiterating its readiness for meaningful engagement, JUAC warned against the use of misinformation and intimidation to undermine workers’ unity.
“JUAC remains open to genuine dialogue but will not succumb to misinformation, intimidation or divide-and-rule tactics,” the statement added.