FCT workers beg Wike to prioritise staff housing
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers have been pleased with the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to prioritise staff housing for deserved comfort.
The workers, under the auspices of the Joint Unions Action Committee, (JUAC), made the appeal during the commencement of the JUAC Week in Abuja on Wednesday on the theme: “FCT Civil Service Commission: A New Dawn.”
JUAC President, Mrs. Rifkatu Iortyer, pointed out that Abuja was one of the cities with the costliest rent in the country.
He added that the outrageous cost had compelled many workers to live on the outskirts of the city, where rent is affordable.
To address the challenge, she said, JUAC had secured land eight years ago for a staff housing estate.
She, however, said that the union was financially incapacitated to allocate the land to the workers, despite paying compensation and other commitments.
She explained that the union had also taken some steps for additional housing for the workers but to no avail.
“We appeal to the minister to consider our plea considering that housing is key to our staff. If we cannot do it as a union, let the housing issue be one of our minister’s projects,” she said.
“He should help us to have an affordable housing estate for our staff. We know him as Mr Project, as evident in the ongoing projects across the territory,” she added
The president also appealed to the minister to look into the transportation scheme for workers.
She lamented that most of the staff buses had been grounded since the COVID-19 lockdown.
She commended the minister for being labour-friendly and a welfarist to workers.
She added that the biggest gift to the FCT workers was the FCT Civil Service Commission (CSC).
“FCT staff can now grow to the peak of their career. We cannot thank him enough for making this a reality,” she said.
The FCT Head of Service, Dr Udo Atang, described Wike as a labour-friendly minister, stressing that he had made staff welfare his priority.
“The minister had said that the establishment of FCT CSC was an integral part of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
“So, our hopes have been renewed and re-established. We are all potential permanent secretaries and potential heads of service,” Atang said.
The Chief of Staff, Mr Chidi Amadi, who represented Wike, ascribed the successes so far recorded in FCT to the resourcefulness of the workers.
“Today, we are celebrating a new beginning. A new beginning that gives hope; a new beginning that gives motivation; a new beginning that gives us the assurance that whatever commitment and sacrifice we put into the service, there is a likelihood that it will be rewarded,” he said.
The minister who commended the collaborative efforts of the workers for a common goal, advised the leadership of the JUAC to imbibe a culture of negotiation and not confrontation.
FCT workers beg Wike to prioritise staff housing
By Clement Omanibe
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers have been pleased with the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to prioritise staff housing for deserved comfort.
The workers, under the auspices of the Joint Unions Action Committee, (JUAC), made the appeal during the commencement of the JUAC Week in Abuja on Wednesday on the theme: “FCT Civil Service Commission: A New Dawn.”
JUAC President, Mrs. Rifkatu Iortyer, pointed out that Abuja was one of the cities with the costliest rent in the country.
He added that the outrageous cost had compelled many workers to live on the outskirts of the city, where rent is affordable.
To address the challenge, she said, JUAC had secured land eight years ago for a staff housing estate.
She, however, said that the union was financially incapacitated to allocate the land to the workers, despite paying compensation and other commitments.
She explained that the union had also taken some steps for additional housing for the workers but to no avail.
“We appeal to the minister to consider our plea considering that housing is key to our staff. If we cannot do it as a union, let the housing issue be one of our minister’s projects,” she said.
“He should help us to have an affordable housing estate for our staff. We know him as Mr Project, as evident in the ongoing projects across the territory,” she added
The president also appealed to the minister to look into the transportation scheme for workers.
She lamented that most of the staff buses had been grounded since the COVID-19 lockdown.
She commended the minister for being labour-friendly and a welfarist to workers.
She added that the biggest gift to the FCT workers was the FCT Civil Service Commission (CSC).
“FCT staff can now grow to the peak of their career. We cannot thank him enough for making this a reality,” she said.
The FCT Head of Service, Dr Udo Atang, described Wike as a labour-friendly minister, stressing that he had made staff welfare his priority.
“The minister had said that the establishment of FCT CSC was an integral part of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
“So, our hopes have been renewed and re-established. We are all potential permanent secretaries and potential heads of service,” Atang said.
The Chief of Staff, Mr Chidi Amadi, who represented Wike, ascribed the successes so far recorded in FCT to the resourcefulness of the workers.
“Today, we are celebrating a new beginning. A new beginning that gives hope; a new beginning that gives motivation; a new beginning that gives us the assurance that whatever commitment and sacrifice we put into the service, there is a likelihood that it will be rewarded,” he said.
The minister who commended the collaborative efforts of the workers for a common goal, advised the leadership of the JUAC to imbibe a culture of negotiation and not confrontation.
