FCTA APPEALS TO ENVIRONMENTAL WORKERS OVER CONSOLIDATED SALARY
FCT Permanent Secretary, Sir Adesola Olusade
By: Ben Ukeji & Prudence Okonna
Authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has made a passionate appeal to workers of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), one of its agencies to shelve the planned industrial action for the interest of peace, and industrial harmony existing between the
Management and the workers.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , Mr. Olusade Adesola, who made the appeal during an emergency meeting with the AEPB workers led by the Chairman, Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), Oluwakorede Matilukuro, Thursday, in Abuja, said the Administration is not averse to paying the workers the Consolidated Salary Structure for Research and Allied Institutions (CONRAISS), but was only waiting for the process to be completed by the National Wages and Salary Commission.
A statement from the Director, Information and Communication, FCT, Muhammad Hazat Sule, said the Permeant Secretary, told the leadership of the workers that there was no need for the workers to embark on the planned strike, considering the cordial relationship between them and the management of the FCTA.
He, therefore, urged the workers to be patient and show understanding with the Administration, for the procedure to be diligently followed and completed.
Adesola explained that the present leadership of the FCT Administration is workers’ friendly and places high priority on the welfare and the well-being of workers, as such, will not do anything that could change that robust policy.
The Permanent Secretary, however, pointed out that the implementation of a salary structure code named Research and Allied Institutions could have long time implication for the careers of the officers. This he disclosed, informed the overture to the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) for a fit-for-purpose salary structure for the AEPB.
He appealed to the Union to exercise little patience noting that the action being undertaken is in the best interest of all.
He, thus, advised that embarking on industrial action will not serve anyone’s best interest at this term, considering the efforts the current Administration has put in place in paying FCT worker’s salary as at and when due.
In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, who is also the JUAC Chairman, Oluwakorede Matilukuro, appealed to the Administration to expedite action to avoid resorting to industrial action.
