The spokesperson to the Federal Capital Territory Minister has dismissed claims that the ongoing strike by FCT workers is due to unpaid salaries, insisting that the government does not owe employees any money.
Lere Olayinka made this assertion during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, January 28, challenging the narrative that salary arrears are behind the industrial action.
“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 stated.
Olayinka explained that the only salary that could be considered outstanding is the January 2026 salary, which has not yet been paid because the month has not ended.
Addressing the issue of promotion arrears, which forms part of the workers’ demands, the minister’s spokesman revealed that approval had already been granted for payment.
“As at December last year, the minister already approved N286.1 million for the payment of these arrears,” he said.
“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.
Olayinka also rejected accusations that Minister Nyesom Wike had refused to engage with the workers, pointing out that senior officials had been delegated to hold multiple meetings with union leaders.
“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,” he said.
READ ALSO: Wike Threatens Sanctions Against FCTA Workers As Court Declares Strike Illegal
“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.
The strike by FCTA and FCDA workers began on January 19, paralysing government activities across Abuja after the workers cited unmet demands.
The industrial action affected all FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils, and parastatals.
Minister Wike has stated that workers submitted 14 demands, of which the government has addressed 10, questioning what remained unresolved.
He suggested that security agencies and FCT management had attempted dialogue with the unions without success, implying there might be ulterior motives behind the strike beyond the stated demands.
On Tuesday, Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court ordered FCT workers to suspend their strike pending the hearing and determination of an originating summons.
The ruling came after Wike filed an application seeking a court order compelling striking workers to return to their duties.
Justice Subilim held that industrial action, including strikes, must be suspended once a dispute has been referred to the National Industrial Court.
Following the court order, Wike warned that any FCTA worker who fails to resume work from Wednesday, January 28, would face disciplinary action.
The minister stated that his administration has met with the unions and tabled all their grievances, but insisted that dialogue attempts had been unsuccessful, suggesting there is more to the strike than the workers’ publicly stated demands.