Tag:

Federal Capital Territory Administration

FCTA, FCDA Workers Embark on Indefinite Strike, Close Offices

by Folarin Kehinde January 19, 2026

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) workers have commenced an indefinite strike, leading to the closure of government offices across the FCT.

The industrial action follows a prior warning issued last Friday, when the workers announced their intention to down tools over unresolved labour and welfare-related issues.

The strike was initiated by the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC), which directed employees at all levels within the FCT public service to withdraw their services.

JUAC accused the FCTA authorities of ignoring long-standing demands, stating that the strike was triggered after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the administration.

According to the unions, several meetings were held with management during the ultimatum period, but none produced tangible results.

The ultimatum, which began on January 7, 2026, was formally communicated in a statement dated January 8 and jointly signed by the JUAC President, Comrade Rifkatu Iortyer, and Secretary, Comrade Abdullahi Saleh.

The notice was also copied to key officials, including the Minister of State for the FCT, the Chief of Staff, the Head of Service, and the Director of Security Services.

Among the grievances highlighted by the unions are unpaid promotion arrears, delays in staff promotions, and continued service extensions granted to directors and permanent secretaries due for retirement.

JUAC further alleged that the administration has failed to remit statutory deductions, including pension contributions and National Housing Fund payments.

In addition, the unions raised concerns over the handling of the 2024 promotion examinations, describing the process as “poorly managed and unfair to many affected workers.”

January 19, 2026 0 comments

Leading Reporters Books Across Borders Initiative has decried negligence of rural Primary schools in FCT lead by Solomon Oseagah

NGO bemoans negligence of rural schools in FCT; describes LEA Primary Sch Kpakpantoshi as worse than IDP camp

by Leading Reporters January 21, 2023

written by Leading Reporters

A non-governmental pro-educational organization, Books Across Borders Initiative has decried negligence of rural Primary schools in FCT by the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

Leading Reporters Books Across Borders Initiative has decried negligence of rural Primary schools in FCT

Members of the board of trustees of the organization, led by Mr. Solomon Oseagah, during one of their periodic visits to schools in rural areas observed that LEA Primary School, Kpakpantoshi Angwa Shehu Karimo Abuja has been left in a state worse than an IDP camp.

***NGO bemoans negligence of rural schools in FCT; describes LEA Primary Sch Kpakpantoshi as worse than IDP camp***

Mr Oseagah who led the team of the board of trustees to the school expressed displeasure at what he described as outright negligence of schools in rural areas by the authorities of the Federal Capital territory.

Addressing newsmen in the organization’s office following inspection of rural schools in FCT, the Chairman, Board of Trustees Light Shedrack said it has become worrisome that FCT administration has continued to cater for schools within the city center, while blatantly neglecting schools and students in rural areas of the federal capital.

He said the school building poses danger to the lives of the pupils even as he said that there are no learning facilities that could aid pupils in their studies.

“From what we saw today, it is obvious that the administration of the Federal capital territory concentrates on schools within the city centers. We have been visiting schools in rural and isolated areas, and our experience is nothing to write home about.

“Today, we visited the LEA Primary School Kpakpantoshi and what we say was better imagined than experienced. From dilapidated buildings which pose safety threat to the lives of the pupils, to classrooms without ceilings, writing boards, desks and tables. The teachers have no enabling and conducive environment to teach. No library. No learning aids and materials. The condition of the pupils could be said to be worse than children in IDP camps. Some of the pupils sit on bare floor to study. The truth is that those children are exposed to avoidable dangers.

Mr. Shedrack said that the school is one of the schools the organization has enlisted in its ”One-child, One-Book Project” of the organization. He therefore called on the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory, the senator and honourable members, including the local council authorities representing Kpakpantoshi constituency to hasten to the help of the pupils before the unimaginable happens.

Books Across Borders Initiative is a pro-literacy and skills acquisition advocate group comprising of educationists, authors and other stakeholders in educations and skills acquisition. The group donates mind-enriching books to schools and pupils in rural and isolated areas in Nigeria.

January 21, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

FCT Raids Criminal Hideouts, Arrests over 400

by Folarin Kehinde August 12, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The FCT Administration arrested 480 suspected criminals from uncompleted buildings and undeveloped plots of land in Maitama and Wuse II areas of the city on Friday.

Commander in charge of the task force that effected the arrests, Mr Bennett Igweh, said the suspects, mostly male, had turned green areas, undeveloped plots of land, and unoccupied houses into their haven for crime.

Igweh said the team would stop at nothing at ridding the city of criminal elements threatening the peace of the FCT.

He said the task force recovered police uniforms, mobile phones, loaded pistol, machetes and charms from the suspects.

“We arrested about 480 suspected criminals. We are going to take many of them to court.

“They live in unauthorised places in the FCT; they want to hide within the shanties and black spots in order to commit havoc in Abuja.

“We will do thorough profiling because we suspect that some of them are escapees from the Kuje Correctional Centre.

“We are starting from the city centre, and we will extend the arrests to other areas.

“The exercise will reach 21 satellite villages and towns from Kabusa to Gishiri to Waru and to Wasa and others,’’ Igweh said.

August 12, 2022 0 comments

Headlines Exclusives

How N4.3 billion Utako District Hospital “Rots Away” More than 17 Years After

by Folarin Kehinde August 9, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Kenny Folarin, Abuja

Without mincing words, the current health system in Nigeria and the yearly low budgetary allocation to the system is nothing but miserable.

This was clearly demonstrated during the COVID 19 pandemic which took the world by storm and Nigeria had to rely on imported vaccines despite large numbers of “brains” in the medical field that could salvage the situation.

The case of the Utako District Hospital outrightly exemplify the pitiable state of Nigeria’s health sector, the fact that the hospital is located in the Federal Capital Territory did not even bother present and past administration to complete the structure, rather Ministers in the FCT did not bat an eyelid on the issue.

The 220-bed hospital complex which has been standing in the district for more than 16 years currently in a deplorable state has several buildings at various stages of completion; among them are a two and three-storey buildings.

Several uncompleted structures within its walls have collapsed while the integrity of others still standing is uncertain.

While reptiles currently enjoy their abode in the building, farmers are not left behind but has taken advantage of the neglect to plant maize especially during the raining season.

Obviously, construction at the complex was suspended as the contractor has moved his equipment out of the construction site though some power generating sets have been left behind, Daily Trust reported in 2016.

The report further gathered that the construction and equipping of the hospital was awarded at the cost of over N4.3 billion to M/S PPC Medical Systems but the hospital is currently a shadow of itself.

Apart from the stench from water log and waste in the building which some people has turn as their resident and has been living there for years, it currently serve as a save haven for drug peddlers, rogues and hardened criminal, surprisingly, the hospital is not situated in a remote area but along the Obafemi Awolowo road, not far from the Arab junction in Utako.

While the Federal Capital Territory Administration remain aloof on the issue, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has lost direction in what should be done concerning the stench from the waste that always ooze out from the hospital and spread across the road to a manhole nearby.

The Abuja Municipal Area Council which is adjudged to be the richest council in the territory too is less concerned about the state of the hospital but would rather prefer to impose heavy permit on businesses and other private organizations without pity.

Notably, the administration is neither deterred by the health hazards that this poses to the public nor the security threat to lives and properties by criminals lurking in the hospital.

While the Nation continues to battle with her various and numerous challenges, the healthcare of her citizens still remain the most important for other sector to thrive on and should not be left in shambles like that of the Utako District Hospital, Abuja.

August 9, 2022 0 comments