Staff members of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, under the Joint Union Action Committee, ended their three-day protest on Wednesday.
They have now issued a fresh 21-day ultimatum, within which their demands must be met.
PUNCH Online recalls that members of the union commenced the protest on Monday, over non-payment of salaries to staff, the prolonged FCT Primary school teachers’ strike, the payment of wage awards to health workers, while demanding the sacking of the Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Emeka Ezeh.
The protest followed a statement issued by the President of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer, mobilising affiliate unions to join the three-day protest from Monday, June 30 to Wednesday, July 2, 2025, against the “blatant refusal of the FCT minister to address salient issues affecting staff.”
Speaking during the final protest, Iortyer disclosed that the union leaders met with members of management, but staged walkout noting the management’s refusal to address protesting workers who were gathered at the gate.
“Yesterday, we met with management and because they did not come out to address you, distinguished colleagues, we walked out.
“We told them it is not us alone, we are only leading you, and we are telling them what you have sent us to tell them, and if they cannot come out to talk to all of us that stayed in the rain, and if they did not come out today, we are not hearing them.
“And believe you me, every member of JUAC walked out on management.
“We told them if they want us to hear them, they should come and address us here today. But have they come? Did you see them? Are we stopping?” she asked.
The president said the union will follow the laws of the International Labour Organisation and issue a 21-day ultimatum, followed by a 14-day ultimatum, and then a seven-day ultimatum, after which they will take action.
“So, it is on this note that today we must close.
“According to the ILO law for strikes and other industrial actions, now we have protested, and we have made our grievances heard.
“We are going to give them a 21-day ultimatum, we have written the letter, it is with us.
“After that, according to the ILO law again, we will give them 14 days, that we have waited 21 days, you’ve not spoken.
“After the 14 days, we will now give them seven days. After those seven days, we will come out again”, Iortyer stated.
She assured the workers that the leaders of the union will not betray them, and will fight the cause to the end until they were successful, while expressing hope that the management will listen to their requests.
“My sincere prayer is that they hear us. We want them to hear us, that is why we have gathered.
“We pray that God will make them hear us. But still, if they do not hear, we will not chicken out.
“We will do the other thing they are not ready to talk about,” she said.
(Punch)
