By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), says it has paid January salaries to its workers and settled part of the outstanding Wage Award arrears amid a planned nationwide protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, said on Sunday that workers received their January salaries last Friday, along with one month of the five-month Wage Award arrears.
In a statement on X, Olayinka said two months of the arrears had now been paid, with the remaining three months to be cleared alongside February, March and April salaries.
He questioned the planned protest, noting that FCTA workers had continued to report for duty, and accused the NLC of selective activism, claiming the union had failed to act in states where the Wage Award was not implemented.
The dispute follows an indefinite strike by FCTA workers that began on January 19 over welfare issues. The National Industrial Court later ordered the strike suspended and adjourned the case to March 25, 2026, while workers’ leaders have appealed the ruling.
The NLC and TUC have criticised the court’s decision and reaffirmed support for the workers, accusing the FCT Minister of intimidation.
