The Joint Unions Action Committee ( JUAC) in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) have concluded arrangement to embark on indefinite strike over the non-implementation of the FCT Civil Service Commission Act.
Chairman of JUAC, Mr Matilukoro Korede, while briefing newsmen on Monday in Abuja, said the FCT Civil Service Commission Act can’t remain in the shelves, while the administration continue to deny workers the benefits accruing from it.
Korede said the grandstanding of FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello over the Act signed three years ago by President Muhammadu Buhari, had put their fate hanging in the air for too long, and it can’t be allowed.
Korede noted that the just concluded 3- day warning strike last week by the workers was a sign that issues that affect their welfare would not be further subjected to political bottlenecks.
He said that all the joint Unions in FCTA and FCDA are prepared for an indefinite strike that would cripple all government activities.
He explained that workers patience had been exhausted, as the administration had refused to do the needful, after several meetings with the labour leaders.
He said that workers have been resilient in demanding for the implementation of Executive Order one of 2004.
He explained that the order abolished the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory, long before the signing of Act which has given FCT workers to advance in the Service like their counterparts in the states.
He said that holistic implementation of the Executive Order one of 2004, and the FCT Civil Service Commission would ensure the removal of the Permanent Secretary who was posted from the Office of the Civil Service of the Federation.
” It will also give opportunity to FCT workers to advance more in administrative cadre, while a qualified worker from the system can be appointed FCT Head of Service, as obtained in states.”
The chairman noted that without the implementation of the Act, FCT workers will continually remain under administrative limitations that won’t allow them to grow at par with workers at the states.
He said it was a huge relief when the National Assembly hearkened to the voice of the staff of the FCT Administration, by enacting, passed into law and Gazetted (with the consent of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria) the FCT-Civil Service Commission in 2018.
” This is three years down the line, the big question is why has it been difficult to implement it till date?
” The FCT-Civil Service Commission is created by an Act of parliament, just like the Federal Civil Service Commission and those of the States Civil Service Commission, with primary responsibility of appointment”.
” Among the demands of the workers are ” the removal of all FCTA staff from the Accountant General of the Federation’s Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System ( IPPIS).
” Others include immediate release of all pending cases of conversion, upgrading and advancement and abolishment of casualisation of workers on FCTA.
” And especially in Transportation Secretariat, Water Board and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board. Promotion and discipline, also known as (APD), within the FCT,” Korede said.
