FCT Minister Wike Approves N70,000 Minimum Wage for Abuja Workers

Abuja workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) can now look forward to improved earnings as the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, has approved the immediate implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage. This development was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by Anthony Odeh, the Press Secretary to the Head of the Civil Service of the FCT.

The move comes after months of anticipation following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s signing of the new Minimum Wage Bill into law in May 2024. The bill had been a product of extensive negotiations with organized labor and set N70,000 as the minimum wage benchmark for Nigerian workers.

However, tensions had risen in recent weeks as the FCT chapters of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) threatened to shut down activities on November 30, 2024. This directive followed complaints about delays in implementing the new wage in several states, including the FCT, and alleged non-engagement with labor unions since Minister Wike’s inauguration in August 2023.

In response, the FCTA, through Acting Head of Civil Service Mrs. Grace Adayilo, confirmed that Wike approved the payment of the minimum wage on November 18, 2024. Additionally, the minister authorized the payment of three months’ arrears to all FCTA staff, beginning this November.

“This gesture will further spur the entire administration staff to support the minister in delivering on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Mrs. Adayilo stated.

The approval is expected to alleviate the economic pressures on workers in Abuja and strengthen the administration’s relationship with the labor force, particularly amidst the growing calls for improved governance and welfare in the nation’s capital.

This decisive action underscores the FCT administration’s commitment to prioritizing staff welfare and fulfilling its obligations under the new wage law.