The Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) have denied having anything against the minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, over the alleged salary cut.
The JUAC president, Mr. Matilukuro Oluwakorede, stated this in Abuja when he reacted to a social media publication alleging that workers in the FCT were groaning as Wike cuts salaries and allowances amid inflation.
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Oluwakorede called on the public to disregard the information in circulation and say that it did not emanate from them, saying that they have an internal issue and that they have 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,” Oluwakorede said.
On the issue of the salary, the president explained that JUAC had fought for some allowances, adding, however, that the allowances were not budgeted for in the 2023 budget.
Oluwakorede identified the allowances as peculiar allowances, hazard allowances, and “one or two other allowances like that.”
He said the allowances overshot the FCTA and FCDA personnel budget, adding that because 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 October’s salary but may affect peculiar allowances.
“We realized that the little fund remaining may affect peculiar allowance, and we say we do not 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 do not know why journalists are just cashing out on this. But I wish to say unequivocally that we do not have any problem with our distinguished honourable minister, the minister of state, or even the permanent secretary of FCTA.
“We are in a good relationship, and this decision that we have taken is in the best interest of staff generally,” the president said.
The 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 stated in the circular that FCTA and FCDA management had asked the committee to sensitize all staff on the inability to pay the salary of all staff in October.