Why FCTA Workers Rejected New Permanent Secretary

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers, united under the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), have expressed their strong opposition to the appointment of a new Permanent Secretary, Dr Magdalene Ajani.

The workers are calling for the full enforcement of the FCT Civil Service Commission Law of 2018, which stipulates the appointment of a chief accounting officer from within the Administration.

Protesting the deployment on Monday, JUAC President, Mr Matilukuro Korede, vocalized the discontent on behalf of the workers, challenging the appointment as a deviation from the FCT CSC Law. The announcement of Ajani’s redeployment came following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the posting of 24 permanent secretaries across various Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

Korede emphasized that the deployment contradicts the established law, citing the Federal Executive Council’s approval in October 2023 for the implementation of the FCT CSC Law. He expressed the workers’ sense of grievance, asserting, “As we speak now, the FCT CSC Law has been gazetted since 2018.”

Highlighting historical grievances, Korede mentioned that FCTA staff had been denied the opportunity to become permanent secretaries since 2004. While the law enabling this change was signed in 2018, its implementation faced challenges. He credited Governor Wike for swiftly securing President Tinubu’s approval for law implementation.

The crux of the workers’ demand is rooted in the belief that the appointment of a permanent secretary from outside the FCTA is both an aberration and an anomaly. They contend that the law mandates the appointment from qualified directors within the FCTA, fostering opportunities for local staff to ascend to the peak of their careers.

Korede affirmed, “Our demand, therefore, is that the appointment of a permanent secretary outside the FCTA is an aberration and an anomaly that should be corrected.” The workers stand firm in their expectation for the implementation of the FCT Civil Service Commission while emphasizing that, in the interim, adherence to the existing law is imperative.

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