The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has directed chairmen of the six Area Councils in the FCT to immediately implement and pay arrears of the national minimum wage to their workers.

Last Thursday, primary school teachers, health workers, and area council staff staged a protest to demand the payment of minimum wage arrears, among other concerns.

Wike, who was represented by the Head of the FCT Civil Service, Grace Adayilo, during his address at the 2025 International Workers’ Day celebration in Abuja, expressed concern over the ongoing industrial action by Area Council workers, triggered by non-payment of the new minimum wage.

He revealed that the FCT Administration had already disbursed the sum of N4.16 billion to the councils

Wike said, “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we are deeply concerned about the ongoing strike action by Area Council employees over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage.

“I had approved the release of the sum of N4.1bn, which was paid to the six Area Councils. I once again call on them to ensure the payment of the minimum wage and its arrears to the workers.

” In a similar vein, the FCT Administration is also committed to improving the working conditions for teachers in the Area Councils, and has commenced the building, renovation and upgrading of school facilities, provision of learning materials, and other necessary support to ensure a conducive learning environment for both pupils and teachers.”

He reaffirmed the FCTA’s commitment to staff welfare, listing several initiatives including prompt salary and pension payments, staff training programs, upgraded office infrastructure, and improved promotion processes.

Wike said, “Today, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to staff welfare and the best-ever conditions of service. We believe that a motivated workforce is the backbone of effective public service delivery. Therefore, the FCTA has taken deliberate steps to improve the working conditions of its staff and uplift their general well-being.

” Some of our recent efforts include: Prompt Payment of Salaries and Pensions: We have prioritized the timely payment of workers’ salaries and pensions, despite fiscal constraints. We ensured that all pensions and gratuities were paid with no arrears owed. We ensured full implementation of the new salary structure in line with the federal government’s policy on workers’ welfare, with all arrears paid. We understand that financial security is critical for personal stability and productivity.

“Staff Training and Capacity Development: We have launched new training and re-skilling programmes across various secretariats, departments and agencies, equipping workers with the tools and knowledge to thrive in a rapidly evolving administrative and technological environment.”