ADVERTISEMENT

The spokesperson to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lere Olayinka, has revealed that the FCTA is not owing any salary to workers who embarked on strike.

He made this revelation on Wednesday during an interview on a television programme.

Olayinka explained that despite claims suggesting unpaid wages, the government has settled all salary obligations to staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

According to him, the only salary that could be described as pending is that of January 2026, noting that the month had not yet ended at the time the strike began.

“There’s this mindset that it’s because the government is owing salaries. No salary is being owed. The government is not owing staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) a dime in terms of salary,” he said.

His remarks came as the strike by FCT workers continued over what the unions described as unmet demands by the administration.

Addressing the issue of promotion arrears, which is one of the workers’ complaints, Olayinka said approval had already been given for payment.

“As at December last year, the minister already approved N286.1 million for the payment of these arrears,” he said.

He added that the process was already ongoing. “The minister has approved, and it’s at the treasury level — payment is being processed. What else do you want the minister to do?” he wondered.

He also reacted to claims that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, refused to meet with the workers.

“The minister did not give you an audience? He sent people led by the Head of Service to hold meetings — several meetings with the union leaders, the Head of Service, Chief of Staff to the minister, Permanent Secretary of Common Services, and the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission,” he said.

He queried the criticism further, saying, “Those are the people the minister sent, and you are saying the minister did not give you an audience. How else do you want him to give you one?”

The strike began on January 19, when workers of the FCTA and FCDA shut down activities across Abuja over what they called ‘unmet demands’ by the FCT administration.

The industrial action affected all FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils, and parastatals within the Federal Capital Territory.

Earlier , Minister Nyesom Wike said the workers submitted 14 demands, out of which the government had already addressed 10.

“So what then is the issue?” he queried.

Wike also said efforts by security agencies and FCT management to engage the unions through dialogue had not yielded results, insisting that there was more behind the strike than the stated demands.

However, on Tuesday, Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court ordered the striking workers to suspend the industrial action pending the hearing and determination of the case before the court.

The judge ruled that once a dispute is referred to the National Industrial Court, all forms of industrial action, including strikes, must be halted.

ADVERTISEMENT

On behalf of the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA), I, Dr. Nwambu Gabriel Chibuzor, stand with the nation to celebrate a true icon of statesmanship, His Excellency, Senator Chief Barr. Henry Seriake Dickson, as he marks his landmark 60th Birthday.
At 60, Senator Dickson does not merely celebrate years; he celebrates six decades of courage, intellectual depth, and an unwavering commitment to the democratic sustenance of the Nigerian State.

A Legacy of Purposeful Leadership
Having closely observed his trajectory, from the hallowed chambers of the House of Representatives to his transformative eight-year tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State, and now his principled presence in the Senate, we recognize a leader of “uncommon quality.”

His public service journey is a masterclass in:
• Institutional Reform: Spearheading foundational changes that streamlined governance.
• Human Capital Development: His massive investments in education and healthcare remain the bedrock of modern Bayelsa.
• Environmental & Regional Advocacy: Standing as a fearless, principled voice for the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta.

The Quintessential Mentor
Beyond the titles of Governor and Senator, Henry Seriake Dickson is a man of profound character. He is a mentor who leads by example—a leader who has consistently demonstrated that the true measure of a man is found in his integrity and intellectual rigour, rather than a quest for material wealth.
In an era of political fluidity, he remains a “constant”—speaking truth to power, defending due process, and upholding the tenets of constitutionalism with a rare blend of vision and consistency.

Our Prayer and Felicitation
“True statesmanship is the art of building the future without losing the values of the past.”
On this auspicious day, we celebrate your discipline and your role as a bridge-builder across party lines. You have earned the respect of colleagues and citizens alike as a lawmaker who puts the national interest above all else.
Happy 60th Birthday, Your Excellency! May the Almighty continue to grant you the strength of a lion, the wisdom of the ancients, and many more years of service to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Signed:
NWAMBU GABRIEL CHIBUZOR, Ph.D.
Director General,
Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness

ADVERTISEMENT

Governor Chukwuma Soludo had on Monday ordered that Onitsha Main Market be shut down for one week due to traders’ perceived compliance with the Monday sit-at-home order by non-state actors.

One of the traders in Onitsha Main Market, Gibson Okafor, has explained the reasons behind traders’ inability to open their shops on Mondays.

The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, had on Monday ordered that Onitsha Main Market be shut down for one week due to traders’ perceived compliance with the Monday sit-at-home order by non-state actors.

The governor also warned that if traders failed to open at the end of the one-week shutdown, the market would be closed for another week, and subsequently for longer periods.
READ ALSO: Soludo Shuts Down Onitsha Main Market For One Week Over Sit-At-Home
Reacting to the governor’s directive on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Wednesday, Okafor said that while the governor has provided security around the market, there is still no security presence on the routes to the market on Mondays.

“The governor promised security, but only what he will do, because some people are coming from Nkpor, Asaba, and other areas. They need transporters to operate and security along the routes so traders can come to the market.
“If they don’t see security men and transporters, they can’t come to the market. Everything has to be in order so that traders would have the means to reach the market. The governor promised us that — that is what I heard from them — but we haven’t seen it,” Okafor said.

He stressed the need to increase security presence while also calling on the governor to ensure that banks operate on Mondays so business can flow smoothly in the market.

Okafor lamented that the continued closure of commercial banks in Onitsha on Mondays makes it difficult for customers to access cash to purchase goods.
“Governor Soludo has put security everywhere, but for the Monday sit-at-home, they have to increase it and tell the banks to open. When the banks are closed, our customers won’t come to the market because they don’t have money to buy goods — that’s the problem,” he stated. stated.

‘Anambra loses ₦8bn’
The Commissioner of Information for Anambra State, Law Mefoh, was also a guest on The Morning Brief on Tuesday, where he disclosed that the state loses ₦8 billion every Monday due to the sit-at-home order.

The commissioner noted that the practice is seriously affecting the socio-economic life of the state.
“Statistics have it that Anambra is losing an average of ₦8 billion every Monday that the market is shut,” he said.

Mefoh insisted that the government has a responsibility to ensure the economy continues to run which was why the governor took the action he took.
“Those who are opposing it are simply being mischievous. That is why the governor rightly called it economic sabotage,” he said.