Video: Wike Isn’t A Blessing To Us;Rather, He’s A Disaster For Those Of Us Working As Staff In The FCT -NCSU

 

Discontent among staff in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) boiled over this week, as members of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) staged a protest demanding better working conditions, payment of salary arrears, and long-overdue promotions.

In a video shared on Voice TV Nigeria, the NCSU chairman did not mince words about the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. “Wike isn’t a blessing to us; rather, he’s a disaster for those of us working as staff in the FCT,” he declared to the gathered crowd.

The chairman, Mr. Comrade Emmanuel, explained that staff had been left to struggle without basic resources, saying there was no overhead cost to run offices, forcing directors to personally fund daily operations. He also criticized the controversial removal of hundreds of workers from the payroll under the claim of discovering ‘ghost workers,’ which he said had worsened hardship among genuine employees.

Other protesters shared similar frustrations. Some auxiliary staff claimed they had not received salaries for six months despite years—even decades—of service, and still lacked formal appointment letters, gratuity, or pension rights. One protester highlighted the painful irony of watching infrastructure projects being commissioned across Abuja while workers themselves remain neglected and underpaid.

They also pointed to stagnated promotions covering 2022, 2023, and 2024, with many retiring as assistant directors instead of directors because of delays. “We’re the ones running the economy internally, yet our salaries can barely feed us or pay our children’s school fees,” one worker lamented.

The union warned that unless authorities act on their demands—ranging from promotions to proper funding for staff welfare—more massive protests could follow. Despite visible developments in the city, workers say that without fair treatment and recognition, the real cost is borne by those tasked with keeping the FCT running.