Joint Union Action Committee, (JUAC) has workers in the Federal Capital Territory Administration to shut the entrance gates to the FCTA complex in compliance with the Nigeria Labour Congress indefinite nationwide strike.
Rifkatu Iortyer, JUAC President who spoke to BusinessDay at the gate, stated that the union was enforcing the strike action, as an affiliate body with the NLC and the TUC.
The union urged workers to stay at home in compliance with the directives of the labour unions to commence an industrial strike action today.
She urged FCTA workers to stay at home, describing the FG-Labour impasse over the minimum wage, as a long-term struggle.
According to her, “It’s been a long-term struggle concerning the national minimum wage issue. Now the hike in electricity tariff has joined. Till now, they have not reached a compromise on what to pay the least staff as the minimum wage, and since the national body of the two labour unions has declared it; FCT is part of it, we are an affiliate body of the national unions. We have to join the strike.
“As of yesterday, Sunday when they met with the National Assembly, if you listen to the TUC President, he almost gave in, but they had to go back to their NEC to convey the message to see if this is what they will take from the government. So the strike is on until when they reach a compromise
My advice to FCTA, and FCDA staff is that they should stay at home and remain the obedient staff that we’ve always been”, she said.
“We are going be here till 4 PM to resume tomorrow by 6 30 Am so as to ensure that no staff come to work.
“The only people we have allowed in are the security personnel because they are very essential in maintaining law and order.
Therefore, I will advise my colleagues to stay glue to their radio and television stations awaiting further directives from the committee before leaving their houses tomorrow.
A staff of the FCTA, who spoke to pressmen, on the condition of anonymity said even Directors were denied entry into the complex, adding that staff members were in support of the enforcement.
“As you can see, we can’t go inside, even our Directors, but we are all in support of our JUAC President, she is fighting for us, we need the pay rise for sure because things are too difficult.”
Another staff said they were yet to receive their May salary in FCTA.
However, when BusinessDay sought to confirm the claim by the staff, the JUAC President assured that payment will commence today.
It would be recalled that the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the Trade Union Congress, on May 31, 2024, directed workers to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike from Monday the 3rd of June 2024, over failed deliberations between Labour and the FG to agree on a new national minimum wage and reverse the recent hike in electricity tariff among other issues.
