Nigeria TV Info 

FCTA Workers Paid January Salary, Received One-Month Wage Award as Wike’s Aide Faults NLC Planned Protest

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has confirmed the payment of January salaries to its workers, alongside the disbursement of one month wage award arrears, amid plans by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to stage a protest in Abuja.

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, said the administration had already commenced efforts to clear outstanding wage award obligations owed to workers. According to him, the FCTA has paid part of the arrears and remains committed to settling the remaining balance in line with available resources and ongoing engagements with labour leaders.

Olayinka criticised the planned protest by the NLC, describing it as unnecessary and poorly timed, given the progress already made by the FCTA in meeting workers’ demands. He argued that the protest could disrupt public services and undermine ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving outstanding welfare issues.

He further stated that several states across the country have either suspended or failed to implement the wage award policy, yet similar protests have not been organised against those governments. The aide urged labour unions to adopt dialogue and constructive engagement rather than industrial actions that could inconvenience residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

Meanwhile, labour leaders insist that the planned protest is meant to push for full compliance with wage agreements and improved welfare conditions for workers. They maintain that partial payments do not address the broader concerns of workers affected by rising living costs and economic pressures.

The development adds to the ongoing tension between government authorities and organised labour over wage implementation, arrears, and broader economic reforms affecting public sector workers.