The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Civil Service Commission will commence operation soon.
Wike said this while inaugurating a five-kilometre dual carriageway in Kuje, Kuje Area Council of the Federal capital on Monday.
He said that “development would be the first in the history of the FCT in line with the provision of the FCT Civil Service Commission (CSC) Law, 2018.”
Voice of Nigeria gathered that Wike had in October 2023 announced President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of CSC for the FCT.
The Minister explained that the civil service, when established, would allow career progression for civil servants in the FCT Administration to become permanent secretaries, who before now could only get to the position of a director.
Wike said: “Very soon the FCT Civil Service Commission will be announced. This has never happened before.
“Mr President means well for FCT. That is why you must continue to defend the mandate of Jagaban (Tinubu) because Jagaban means well for the entire country.”
Wike said that the move was in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, by giving hope to the people where all hope was lost.
“The renewed hope agenda is not just on paper; the renewed hope agenda is practical. It is practical because you can see it, you can feel it and you can touch it.
“I know that yes, things may not be as fast as we expect it but what is important is that Nigerians are beginning to rekindle their hope that things will change.
“It will take some time, but it is important that they have hope that things will change, and it has started changing from the rural areas,” he explained.
Wike said that the achievements being recorded so far, was because of the overwhelming support of President Tinubu, who provides all the needed support.
“We are doing well because Mr President is behind us. Every request we make, Mr President has always given to us, so for us, we don’t have any excuse not to do what we are supposed to do,” he said.
On ending poverty and insecurity, the Minister said that FCT Administration is working with the area council chairmen to address the challenges irrespective of political party differences.
He said; “Poverty does not know the political party you belong to; poverty doesn’t know whether you are Party A or Party B. So, we must work together to fight poverty.
“Insecurity does not know whether you are a rich man’s son or a poor man’s son. So, we must work together to fight insecurity.
“The council chairmen are working with us. Each time there is a problem we come together, and that is what is supposed to be.
“Party is a vehicle that takes you to your destination and when you get there you come down and work for your people, and that is what we are doing here today.”
Workers of FCTA, under the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), had in January called for the full implementation of the FCT CSC Law.
The workers who made the call while protesting the deployment of a Permanent Secretary (PS) for the FCTA, argued that the law provided for the establishment of CSC for the FCT and appointment of PS from the Administration.
JUAC President, Mr Matilukuro Korede had explained during the protest that since 2004, the staff of FCTA had been deprived of becoming permanent secretaries, stressing that the law to make it possible was signed in 2018 but implementation became a problem.
He said that Wike took the issue and secured President Tinubu’s approval for the implementation of the law.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
