We don’t have any issue against Wike – Workers

The Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) say workers have nothing against the Minister of FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike, over an alleged salary cut.

JUAC President, Mr. Matilukuro Oluwakorede, stated this in Abuja on Saturday, while reacting to a social media publication alleging that “workers in Nigeria Capital, Abuja, groan as Wike cuts salaries and allowances amid inflation”.

Oluwakorede said, “The public should disregard the information in circulation. It is not emanating from us. We have an internal issue; we had a meeting and agreed on the best way to manage the issue.

“We have nothing to do with what is trending online currently.

“We love our minister. We don’t have any issue against him, as at this moment I am talking to you, and I wish to be quoted anywhere.”

On the issue of the salary, he explained that JUAC had fought for some allowances, adding, however, that the allowances were not budgeted for in the 2023 budget.

He identified the allowances as peculiar allowance, hazard allowance, and “one or two other allowances like that.”

He explained that the allowances overshot the FCTA and FCDA personnel budgets, adding that, in view of the development, the FCTA management called the leadership of the committee over the challenge.

He added that they all agreed at the meeting that the remaining funds in the vault should be used to pay the October salary but may affect peculiar allowances.

“We realised that the little fund remaining may affect peculiar allowance, and we say we don’t mind stepping it down by one month while the FCT Administration does the needful against the remaining months.

“So that by November, we return to normalcy. So, I don’t know why journalists are just cashing out on this.

“But I wish to say unequivocally, that we don’t have any problem with our distinguished honourable minister or the minister of state or even the permanent secretary of FCTA.

“We are in good relationship and this decision that we have taken, is for the best interest of staff generally,” the president said.

Wike reports that JUAC leadership issued a circular on Friday, signed by its President and General Secretary, Mr. Akuh Sunday, informing their members of the salary shortfall for October.

JUAC explained in the circular that FCTA and FCDA had asked the committee to sensitise all staff on the inability to pay their salaries in the months of October.

The development, it said, was because the FCTA personal budget vote has been exhausted following the payment of the 40 percent peculiar allowance, hazard allowance, and other allowances.

The committee, however, noted that the payment of the allowance in some departments, secretariats, and agencies was not budgeted for.

“In view of the above, JUAC insisted that instead of not paying salary at all in October, management should handle the matter in this manner.

“First, the October salary will be paid without the peculiar allowance, which is what the current personnel cost vote can carry.

“Secondly, between now and November, arrangements will be made to transfer funds from other votes to beef up the personnel cost vote to enable management to pay the November salary in full.

“In addition, the arrears for the peculiar allowance of October will be paid in November alongside the arrears for the N35,000 wage award.

“JUAC agreed to these terms because it believes that this is the best bargain and decision that it could take in the best interest of the entire staff of FCTA and FCDA, given the current situation we have found ourselves in,” JUAC said in the circular.