Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have received their January salaries, alongside the payment of one month out of the five months’ arrears owed under the Wage Award, officials have confirmed.
With the latest disbursement, the FCTA has now paid two months of the outstanding Wage Award arrears, leaving three months yet to be settled. According to officials, the remaining arrears are scheduled to be paid alongside workers’ salaries for February, March and April.
Despite the progress recorded in the payment of entitlements, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is mobilising workers in other sectors for a protest slated for Tuesday. The planned action has raised questions within the FCTA, particularly as workers under the administration have continued to report for duty.
Sources within the FCTA disclosed that workers were present at their duty posts on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week and are also expected to resume work on Monday. The sources stressed that the administration has not defaulted in paying salaries or the Wage Award, unlike several other states across the country.
According to the sources, more than 20 states have either stopped paying the Wage Award or have failed to implement it entirely. In contrast, the Federal Capital Territory has sustained the payments and has already cleared two months of the arrears.
The sources further questioned the justification for the proposed protest as it concerns the FCTA, urging the leadership of the NLC to clearly outline its specific demands from the administration. They argued that while labour agitations are legitimate, protests should be targeted and based on clear grievances.
Officials maintained that the FCTA remains committed to the welfare of its workforce and assured that outstanding Wage Award arrears would be cleared as scheduled.
