Unions Threaten To Shutdown FCTA Over Civil Service Commission Act

The Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), and the Satellite Towns Development Agencies (STDAs) said it is set to mobilise all staff of the FCTA, FCDA, and the SDAs for a 40, 000-delegate march to compel the FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Bello to implement the FCT-Civil Service Commission Act of 2018, within 21 days.

In a letter sent to the FCT minister by JUAC, the union explained that the Act, when implemented, will restore the proper identity, status, and career progression to the FCTA, FCDA, and STDA staff just like their counterparts in other federal ministries, and agencies in the 36 states of Nigeria.

In the letter which was jointly signed by the chairman, Comrade Matilukuro Oluwakorede, and secretary-general Comrade Akuh Enojo Sunday, the union said that it is poised and prepared to take all necessary action within the ultimatum of 21 days to ensure management’s compliance with the various demands.

It stated that failure by the FCTA management to comply would constrain the joint unions to direct all staff through their affiliate unions, to shut down the FCT administration pending the implementation of the various demands, especially the FCT Civil Service Commission.

JUAC in the letter, reminded the minister that it is currently superintending over 15 affiliate unions across the FCT, while it would leverage on existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the independent unions, including the Nigerian Medical Association, (NMA) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to enforce their demands, should push comes to shove.

It further stated, “Sir, you may please recall that we have approached you severally, calling your attention to the FCT-Civil Service Commission, which has been passed into law and gazetted since 2018. We compassionately appealed to you, while reminding you of the negative implications of the hurriedly-implemented Order 1 of 2004, which dissolved the Ministry of FCT.

“Besides the administrative lacuna created by the problem, the staff of the FCT administration is increasingly losing their identity and career progression, especially concerning the directorate cadre.

“This situation, no doubt, has resulted in, and indeed, encourages overbearing dispositions, officiousness, and corporate high-handedness by some directors who feel their kernels were cracked by opportunistic benevolent spirits, thereby lording it over the less-privileged staff with unbridled impunity.”