Salary Cut: We’ve An Understanding With Wike, Say FCT Workers

*Debunks Media Report Alleging Fracas With Minister 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 alleged salary cut. JUAC President, Mr Matilukuro Oluwakorede stated this in Abuja at the weekend, while reacting to a social media publication alleging that, “workers in Nigeria Capital, Abuja groan as Wike cuts salaries, allowances amid inflation”. Olyuwakorede said, “The public should disregard the information in circulation as 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 that 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 FCTA and FCDA personnel budget, 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 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. JUAC leadership had on Friday issued a circular, signed by its President and General Secretary, Mr Akuh Sunday, intimating their members on salary shortfall for October. JUAC explained in the circular that FCTA and FCDA that management had asked the committee to sensitise all staff on the inability to pay salary of all staff in the months of October. The development, it said, was because FCTA personal budget vote has been exhausted following the payment of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, hazard allowance and other allowances. The committee, however, noted that the payment of the allowance in some Departments, Secretariat and Agencies were 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 be paid without the peculiar allowance which is what the current personnel cost vote can carry. “Secondly, between now and November, virement will be made to transfer funds from other votes to beef up the personnel cost vote to enable management to pay 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,” JUAC had said in the circular.

Miyetti Allah Mocks Wike Over Plan To Ban Open Grazing In Abuja

In response to the threat made by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to ban the movement of cows within the Nigerian capital, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore has issued a statement dismissing the minister’s warning as inconsequential.  Saleh Alhassan Kubah, the National Secretary of the organization, expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of such a ban. Kubah stated, “Where is the grazing land in Abuja? Is it inside the building they will graze? The thing is, Wike is not consequential. We have seen Ortom come and go.” He further highlighted that many of the cattle in Abuja belong to the elite and suggested that Minister Wike should find a way to accommodate them.  He also called for the development of the city, addressing the needs of neglected indigenous people, and focusing on rural areas and satellite towns. Kubah concluded by saying, “No matter how it is, he will leave very soon. We can’t engage him. He can’t get new information from us. He’s an attention seeker. Is there any grazing land around the Villa?”

Islamic Group Warns Wike Over Security Deal With Israel

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has strongly cautioned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, regarding his plans to partner with Israeli security experts.  This warning came through a statement released by MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof Ishaq Akintola, in Abuja on Thursday. In the statement, Prof Akintola highlighted Wike’s announcement of a prospective collaboration with Israeli security experts to enhance security measures in Abuja. MURIC, however, voiced apprehensions regarding this potential partnership. “We like to warn that such collaboration with the state of Israel will exacerbate Nigeria’s security problems by escalating it from a local crisis to an international fracas engineered by MOSSAD (Israel’s secret spies) with the likelihood of Nigeria becoming the centre of rivalry for global espionage outfits like the American CIA and the Russian SVR and FSB,” the statement read. Furthermore, MURIC expressed concerns about misconceptions surrounding Israel’s religious identity, asserting that Israel predominantly recognizes and respects Judaism. The statement also referred to recent incidents in which religious tensions were reported in Israel. “We believe that Wike is now courting the Israelis because, like most Nigerian Christians, he holds the wrong notion that Israel is a Christian state whereas the reverse is the case. Several instances confirm that the only religion Israel recognises and respects is Judaism,” Prof Akintola stated. He continued, “Just yesterday, on Wednesday, September 4, Jews spit on Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem and Christians are under constant attacks in Israel.” The MURIC executive director emphasized the need for caution, citing Israel’s history of disregarding United Nations resolutions and its contentious stance on several international issues. “To cap the edifice, Israel’s arrogant posture at the United Nations as it shuns the latter’s resolutions is legendary. At least 45 UN resolutions have condemned Israel’s aggression against Palestinians,” he pointed out. In conclusion, Prof Akintola stated, “A terrorist state cannot be the ideal security partner for us in Nigeria. Wike should take the Israelis to Rivers State. Israel constitutes an existential threat to both Muslims and Christians in Nigeria.” Minister Nyesom Wike’s office has yet to respond to MURIC’s cautionary statement, leaving the fate of the proposed security partnership uncertain.

FCTA’s N34bn ground rent debtors will be penalised, says Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says owners of landed properties owing the FCT Administration (FCTA) ground rents, amounting to N34 billion would be penalised. Wike stated this when members of the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee Investigating Failure of Mass Transportation in Nigeria, visited him in Abuja on Tuesday. He warned allottees owing the FCT Administration ground rents to either pay or have their property revoked and reallocated to those who could pay. “I have calculated the debt of nonpayment of ground rent, which is about N34 billion, and I am going to collect all of those back. I don’t care, all I want is for the rent to be paid,” he said. The minister said that the list of the people owing FCTA ground rent would be published on Thursday, adding that they would be given two weeks to pay. According to him, whoever does not pay, his land will be revoked and be given to whoever will pay so that the necessary services will be rendered. “People want to live in a beautiful city but don’t want to pay their dues which is impossible.” He said that the decision became necessary following a decision to tie projects to Internally Generated Revenue to enable contractors complete abandoned projects. Wike complained about the poor budgetary allocation to the FCT and appealed to the lawmakers to assist in improving its budgetary provisions. The minister also said that he would overhaul the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company (AUMTCO), expressing displeasure that AUMTCO buses were loaned out without maintenance. Earlier, Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Mr Afam Ogene said that his committee visited the minister to find solutions to epileptic mass transportation in the country and the FCT. Ogene described the development as “worrisome”, saying that over N16 billion had been invested in mass transportation during the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SUR-P) with little services being rendered. He expressed relief with the ongoing transformation of the Abuja Light Rail transport system, and traffic lights across the city. “We are here to encourage you to look into transportation and reorganize it. We will support you to do it and it will also solve problems of one chance in the city,” he pledged. 

2nd Abuja Airport Runway: We’ll pay N825.8m compensation –Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration (FCTA) will pay N825.8 million as compensation for the construction of second runway for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Wike stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, while briefing newsmen at the end of a closed-door meeting with members of the Jiwa community and other stakeholders. He said that the amount would be paid through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) for compensation and resettlement of the people of the community affected by the project. He added that as part of the incentive, 12 people from the community would be employed by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and its agencies and 10 by FCTA. He added that the government would also construct the Tunga Madaki bridge along with a five-kilometre road from the bridge to the community for easy movement of the people. The minister explained that the project would be captured in the 2024 budget of the FCTA. Wike also said that FCTA would equally provide a modern health facility to provide quality health care services for people of the community. He said that an undertaking would be signed based on the agreement between the government and the community. He identified the signatories as the permanent secretaries of FCTA and ministry of aviation, the Chief of Jiwa, the Chairman, Abuja Municipal Council and the Commissioner, Public Complaint Commission. “If that is done today, and tomorrow or next tomorrow the money is paid to them, contractors will no longer delay. They have to move to the site immediately and commence work. “So, the second runway has come to stay,” he said. He said that the current administration was determined to ensure that the second runway was delivered. He commended the Chief of Jiwa, Alhaji Isa Idris, for mobilising his people to attend the meeting to resolve the crises. His counterpart, Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said that he met the issue on his table, adding that the project ought to have been delivered in July. Keyamo said that the contractors could not be mobilised because of the issue of compensation. Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, said that the completion of the project requires the support of all relevant stakeholders. Adesola commended Wike for the intervention to ensure a quick resolution of the issue. Dr Emmanuel Meribole, Permanent Secretary, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said that the project was approved by the Federal Executive Council in March 2022. Meribole said that the project was awarded to four contractors in April, with CCECC Nigeria Limited as the major contractor. He, however, said that the project was stalled because of the disagreement over compensation to the affected community members. Earlier, the Chief of Jiwa, said that the ministry of aviation through its consultant had earlier pegged the compensation at N2.5 million per hectare, for the 12,000 hectares allocated for the project. Idris further said that the amount was later reviewed downward to N700,000 per hectare when FCTA took over the discussion as the rightful authority to determine how much compensation to be paid. He said that the community took the matter to the Public Complaint Commission with a view to resolve the issue amicably. The community leader said that his people were concerned that the N700,000 being offered per hectare would not be enough for the affected persons to acquire another land.

N5bn Palliative: FCT to boost transportation, food –Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCTA is considering transportation and food supplies support with the N5 billion palliative received from the Federal Government. Wike stated this in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with contractors handling different projects in the FCT. The Federal Government had on Aug. 17 announced a N5 billion palliative for each state of the federation, including the FCT, to cushion the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy. Some of the state governments have confirmed receiving N2 billion from the amount, while awaiting the N3 billion balance. However, the minister said that the FCT was not included in the N5 billion palliative until he wrote a memo informing President Bola Tinubu of the development. He added that Tinubu has approved the amount, adding that other states have received N2 billion already, expressing confidence that the FCT will equally receive soon. “But we are yet to decide on what to do with the N2 billion palliative. We have not chosen any area yet. “Are we going to concentrate on food, but we are thinking that the issue of transportation is very very important, particularly the urban mass transit. “People would like to have easy transportation to go to where they want to go, and if you give them rice and they eat the rice today, what about transportation tomorrow? “So, we have not come up with what actually we are going to use the money for, but I believe food support and transportation is very key,” he said. The minister added that efforts were ongoing to bring back urban mass transportation to be able to reduce the suffering of the masses in terms of transportation.