Strike: What Else Do You Want?, We Are Not Owing Workers A Dime – Wike’s Aide

The media aide to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has denied claims that the administration is owing workers salaries.

According to Olayinka, all workers with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) have been paid their salaries up to date.

Naijaonpoint reports the Minister’s spokesperson made the declaration on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief against the backdrop of the strike action embarked upon by workers in the Federal Caiptal Territory (FCT).

He added that Wike had, in December last year, approved ₦286.1 million for the payment of promotion arrears, and the fund is already being processed for disbursement.

Olayinka maintained that contrary to what is believed in some quarters, the ongoing strike can not be linked to unpaid salaries.

“There is 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.

He also confirmed that promotion arrears are already receiving attention.

“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 questioned.

The aide also dismissed claims that Wike did not grant the workers an audience, noting that they have had several meetings with top government officials, including the Head of Service, Chief of Staff to the minister, Permanent Secretary of Common Services, and the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission.

“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.

“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?” he added.

Naijaonpoint recalls that workers in the FCTA and FCDA grounded activities on January 19 after they commenced a strike action over what they described as ‘unmet demands’ by the FCT administration.

The strike affected all FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils, and parastatals.

The Minister, however, insisted that 10 of their 14 demands had already been met.

He also took the matter to court, where Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court, on Tuesday, ordered workers of the FCTA to suspend their ongoing industrial action pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.

Following the court order, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said any worker of the FCTA who fails to resume work from Wednesday, January 28, would face disciplinary action.