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Tag: FCTA

  • FCTA to recruit more health workers — Perm. Sec

    FCTA to recruit more health workers — Perm. Sec

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said on Friday in Abuja that it would recruit 900 health workers for its hospitals.

    Dr Babagana Adams, Permanent Secretary, Health and Environment Services Secretariat (HESS), said this at a dinner and award night organised by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) FCT Council.

    The dinner and award night was organised to wrapped-up the 2024 FCT nurses week which started with Jumaat Prayer on Sept. 20.

    Adams said that the Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, had approved the recruitment of the health workers.

    He said that the minister had also approved the engagement of other 342 health professionals, adding that the process would commence soon.

    Adams also pledged to raise a proposal to support the demand for health professionals’ village before the end of the current administration.

    He said there would also be a proposal for nurses mobility to ease their movement to work.

    He said discussion had begun with WEMA and Zenith banks to partner and support the demand of nurses.

    He said that the proposal would spell out mode of payment in s seamless manner.

    Mr Jama Medan, chairman of the council, advocated expansion of hospitals in the FCT, saying that most districts in the city were without hospitals.

    According to him, the growing population in the FCT has outweighed the number of hospitals, hence the need for expansion and more procurement of equipment.

    He encouraged nurses not to migrant abroad or change profession though they were faced with heavy workload.

    Medan commended Wike for turning things around in the FCT, saying that the nurses believed in with time their efforts would be well rewarded.

    “The minister has started on a good note by first approving the 25 per cent wage increment and other arrears for the nurses,” he said.

    The best nurse in the FCT award was presented to Rosemary Okoroafor from Karshi General Hospital by Dr Esther Osunluyi who represented the National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America.

  • Indefinite strike: JUAC shuts FCTA Secretariat

    Indefinite strike: JUAC shuts FCTA Secretariat

    The Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday, locked the entrance of the secretariat in compliance with infinite industrial action embarked by the labour union.

    The Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress had on May 31 directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike from June 3.

    The action, according to the unions, was over the failure of the Federal Government to increase the N60,000 minimum wage it offered to workers and its refusal to reverse the recent increase in electricity tariff.

    The President of JUAC, Mrs Rifkatu Lortyer, said that the committee’s decision to deny workers access to the Secretariat was in compliance with the NLC and TUC directive.

    Lortyer explained that JUAC, being part of the labour unions, has no choice but to fully enforce the strike.

    “My advice to FCTA workers is simple: stay at home and be the obedient workers you’ve always been.

    “The strike action is for the interest of the Nigerian workers,” she said.

    The labour unions had during the May Day celebration issued the Federal Government an ultimatum to ensure that negotiation on a new national minimum wage was concluded by May 31.

    The President of TUC, Festus Osifo, told newsmen that the strike had become necessary as the government declined to increase the N60,000 wage it offered on Friday during the meeting of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage.

    Osifo also said that the strike was imperative due to the refusal of the government to reverse the hike in electricity tariff.

    NLC confirmed the nationwide strike after a failed meeting with National Assembly leaders.

    Inspite of appeals to call off the strike, labour leaders insist on proceeding due to unresolved minimum wage disputes.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has confirmed that the nationwide strike set for June 3 will proceed, following a failed meeting with National Assembly leaders.

    The meeting, which aimed to resolve the minimum wage dispute, ended without an agreement.

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajuddeen Abbas presided over the discussions, which also included high-ranking government officials such as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

     

  • Inauguration of Abuja Rail Mass Transit shifted

    Inauguration of Abuja Rail Mass Transit shifted

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says inauguration of commercial operations of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit system will now hold on May 29 and not May 27 as earlier announced.

    Mr Anthony Ogunleye, Director of Press, Office of the FCT Minister, announced the change  in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

    Ogunleye said the inauguration, would be performed by President Bola Tinubu by 1:00 p.m., as part of activities to celebrate his one year in office.

  • FCTA begins demolition of 500 illegal structures

    FCTA begins demolition of 500 illegal structures

    The Department of Development Control, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun demolition of over 500 illegal structures at the popular Karmo market, Abuja.

    The director of the department, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, explained during the exercise on Wednesday, that the demolition followed the expiration of the 24-hour demolition notices issued to the traders.

    Recall that the department had on Monday, served 24-hour demolition notices to operators of the illegal markets and shanties marked for demolition along Karmo – Dei-Dei  road corridor.

    Galadima, who was represented by Mr Garba Jibril, an Assistant Director and the Sector Monitor in charge of Karmo and other districts, said that the demolition exercise followed due process.

    He added that the operators of the illegal markets and owners of the illegal structures and shanties have been duly notified and given enough time to evacuate their valuables.

    He explained that demolition was necessary considering the huge traffic gridlock being experienced along the road corridor, especially during market days.

    “It is a known fact that people spend hours just to pass through the road, particularly during market days.

    “To address the challenge, the Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike had directed that all illegal structures, shanties, and informal markets along the road corridor should be demolished and removed.

    “This will allow free flow of traffic on the road corridor and make life easy for the road users,” he said.

    He advised the affected traders to relocate to the fully built and equipped market in the area.

    He added that the market operators have agreed to allow the affected traders to occupy a shop free for one year before paying any rent at a subsidised rate, including other incentives.

    On his part, Dr Peter Olumuji, Secretary, Command and Control Centre, Department of Security Services, FCTA, said that the clearance would equally improve security in the area.

    “There are a lot of shanties and unplanned settlements that people occupy in the area and some of the people commit various types of crime, particularly in the night.

    “The demolition will ensure a serene environment that will not be too comfortable for criminals to operate,” Olumuji said.

    On the possibility of the traders returning to the road, the secretary said that arrangements have been concluded with the Divisional Police Officer in the area to arrest any trader that operates along the road.

  • FCTA to boost security in Abuja with drones

    FCTA to boost security in Abuja with drones

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration has begun the procurement processes for drones to boost the security architecture of the territory.

    Wike disclosed this when the Consul-General of the Embassy of Hungary in Nigeria, Mr Endre Deri visited him in Abuja on Thursday.

    The minister, while responding to the consul-general’s comments on the need for drones, said, “whether we want some drones? Yes, there is no going back”.

    He promised to discuss with the security experts, to consider a conversation with Deri on the type of drones that would be effective and efficient work based on the terrain of FCT.

    He said that security was part of President Bola Tinubu’s priority in his “Renewed Hope” agenda.

    The minister said that the security interventions in the FCT were already yielding results, stressing that the incidents of insecurity had drastically reduced.

    “You too can attest to the fact that Abuja is safer now, because of the way we have been able to tackle the issue,” he added.

    On agriculture, Wike said that the FCTA was open to collaborate with Hungary through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), adding that the administration was willing to provide the needed land.

    “The issue of agriculture is very key, and I know your country is doing well in agriculture.

    “We can collaborate and partner in terms of PPP. We are willing to provide land, if you can reach those concerns we can start the process.

    “Let us also know what they intend to produce in order to address the issue of food insecurity in FCT.

    Earlier, Deri expressed the willingness of Hungary to partner with FCTA to improve security in the territory.

    The consul general, who commended the minister for improving the security situation in the FCT, expressed the willingness of his country to support the FCT with the latest drone technology.

    “We are also interested in partnering with the FCTA in the areas of agriculture to boost food security and food safety for residents of the FCT,” he added.

  • 74 directors bow out of FCTA, FCDA

    74 directors bow out of FCTA, FCDA

    No fewer than 74 Directors have bowed out of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), having clocked 60 years of age or 35 years in service.

    FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, stated this in Abuja on Sunday, at an event organised in their honour.

    Wike said that the FCT Administration would continue to tap from their experience and expertise to accelerate growth and development in the federal capital, Abuja.

    Represented by the acting Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Udom Atang, the minister expressed optimism that the wealth of experience of the retirees would be of great value to the administration.

    He said that the batch of the retirees were among the earliest staff of the FCTA and FCDA, and, therefore, played crucial roles in building Abuja from the scratch to its current state.

    He said that because of their institutional knowledge and experience, the FCTA would be reaching out to them for in-house training to coach and mentor the younger ones.

    According to him, nobody can do it better than those “who have been here before.”

    The minister restated the FCTA’s commitment to improve welfare of staff under the “Renewed Hope” agenda of the current administration.

    Also speaking, the acting Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, commended the retirees for dedicating a significant portion of their lives to public service.

    “These directors have exhibited exemplary leadership, dedication, and professionalism throughout their tenure, serving as beacons of integrity and commitment to the welfare and progress of the FCTA.

    “Their unwavering dedication has contributed to the advancement of our administrative processes, the implementation of crucial policies, and the successful execution of numerous projects that have transformed the landscape of the FCT,” Ahmadu said.

    Some of the retirees who spoke to journalists on the sideline of the event, encouraged those still in service to build on their achievements for accelerated growth and development of the territory.

    One of them, Dr. Matthew Ashikeni, urged those in service to focus more on adding value to the system, rather than what they can gain from it.

    Ashikeni, who retired as Director, Special Duties at the FCT Health and Environment Secretariat, also tasked the government to invest more in primary health care to attain universal health coverage.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 74 retirees bowed out of service in the third and fourth quarter of 2023.

  • FCTA to crush impounded vehicles

    FCTA to crush impounded vehicles

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), says it will crush some of the over 130 impounded vehicles that failed integrity tests.

    Dr. Abdulateef Bello, Director, Department of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), stated this after taking journalists round the impounded vehicles in the various offices in Abuja on Monday.

    Bello said that the vehicles would be subjected to standard verification for registration, roadworthiness, and other checks, adding that those that fall below minimum standards would be crushed.

    He also said that the owners of some of the impounded vehicles would face the mobile court and pay penalties in line with the provisions of the law.

    “Some of the vehicles that are here; some of the owners will be made to face mobile courts, that will decide the kind of penalties to be given to them.

    “But there are some that definitely will not go back to the road. We are going to invite the owners. We will ask them to pick whatever is valuable in the vehicles, and the vehicles will be crushed,” he said.

    The director added that those arrested based on crime committed in the guise of commercial operations, would be handed over to the police for prosecution.

    Bello, however,  explained that a total of 130 vehicles were impounded in the last two weeks during evening raids.

    According to him, most of the vehicles seized were plying the city roads in the guise of commercial businesses, when they were actually running the city to perpetrate crime.

    “So, in the last two weeks under review, we have impounded over 130 vehicles, which we took you round to see.

    “The idea is to ensure that we return the city back to sanity; to remove all traces of insecurity and then to ensure seamless traffic flow in the capital city.

    “This is an assignment that we have taken upon us in line with the vision of the current administration, to guarantee zero tolerance for insecurity in the FCT.

    The director said that the operations would continue until all substandard vehicles being used for criminality were removed from the city.

    Bello also said that the DRTS had substantially reduced the level of criminality associated with “one chance” in the FCT.

    He explained that in the last one month DRTS was working to ensure that all taxi operators conduct their businesses in the parks and not on the road.

    He advised residents against patronising taxis and other vehicles outside the authorised parks.

  • FCTA denies school fees increment in public boarding schools

    FCTA denies school fees increment in public boarding schools

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says there is no increment of school fees in public boarding schools in the federal capital.

    Dr Danlami Hayyo, Mandate Secretary, Education Secretariat, FCTA, made the clarification in an interview with NAN, in Abuja on Thursday.

    Recall that some parents had claimed that the FCT Administration increased school fees for students in FCT public boarding schools.

    They claimed that the fee was increased from between N29,000 and N32,000 to N47,000, a development they claimed had forced some parents to withdraw their children from boarding schools to day schools.

    Reacting, Hayyo said, “This is not true; this is not true.

    “The Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, had even approved the increase in the feeding allowances for boarding schools due to rising cost of food items.

    “Look at the situation, how much is a bag of rice in the last two years and how much is a bag or rice currently? He asked.”

    The mandate secretary also denied the claim that some parents have withdrawn their children from public boarding schools in the FCT.

    According to him, FCT public boarding schools are positioned to provide quality education at affordable cost and within the means of parents.

    “I don’t think there is someone that will remove his children or his son from public school as a result of the feeding cost; I doubt much.”

    He added that the quality of education in public schools was very encouraging, stressing that the best student in the 2023 West African Examination Council was from a public school.

    He also said that students from public schools won more trophies from debates, quizzes and other academic and sports competitions in 2023 than private schools.

    “In fact, in Abuja, so many parents are removing their children from private schools to public schools because of the quality of education the public schools provide.

    “There is a high number of enrolments in public schools in Abuja currently and we are trying to bridge the infrastructural gap to accommodate more pupils and students,” he said.

    Hayyo said that FCTA has concluded plans to inaugurate the schools recently rehabilitated, while plans are underway for the construction of new ones.

    Recall that the mandate secretary had on Jan. 30 announced Wike’s approval of N30.9 billion for massive public school rehabilitation projects in the federal capital.

  • FCTA seals orphanage over alleged trafficking of 23 children in Abuja

    FCTA seals orphanage over alleged trafficking of 23 children in Abuja

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed the Priesthood Orphanage in Karon Majigi Village, Abuja, after 23 children between the ages of one and 14 were rescued from the orphanage.

    The children were believed to have been allegedly trafficked from Plateau.

    Mrs. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, FCTA, disclosed this while handing over the children to Plateau Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Caroline Dafur, in Abuja on Monday.

    She said that investigation was ongoing to unravel the facts of the allegation.

    Benjamins-Laniyi also said that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had authorised the Secretariat to profile and recertify orphanages operating within the nation’s capital.

    “Using this as an example, one of the first things I have done is to get approval for the recertification of orphanage homes in Abuja.

    “The Minister has approved that there will be a full thorough reprofiling and recertification of anything that has to do with orphanages in Abuja,” she said.

    The mandate secretary said that the Secretariat was already working with Dafur to reunite the children with their families.

    She added that some of the children had been in the uncertified orphanage since 2019.

    Also speaking, Dafur said that three of the children had escaped due to the poor condition of the orphanage.

    She added that the escaped children were discovered by officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who reported the case to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.

    She said that the FRSC officials further took the children to the Human Rights Radio, Abuja, who then notified the Plateau Government and the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat.

    “We came in yesterday and on reaching here, we were told that they went to church. We kept going from one church to another, looking for them until we found them in a Deeper Life Church.

    “From there we went to the orphanage and what we saw in that place, in fact, it is not supposed to be called an orphanage.

    “The place is just so unkempt. Nine girls were sleeping in a very small room with just two mattresses.

    “For the boys, they were in a small room too, with two mattresses just on the floor. It is so pathetic the way human beings treat their fellow human beings in this country,” she said.

    She thanked the mandate secretary for assisting to evacuate the children to the Karu Childrens’ Home.

  • DRTS demolishes shops, eateries, illegal structures in taxi ranks in Abuja

    DRTS demolishes shops, eateries, illegal structures in taxi ranks in Abuja

    The Directorate of Road Transport Services (DRTS), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has
    commenced demolition of shops, eateries, and other illegal structures in taxi ranks across the capital city, Abuja.

    The demolition started with Area 3 and Banex Junction Taxi Ranks in Abuja on Friday.

    In Area 3 Taxi Rank, the DRTS team, supported by security agencies, demolished car wash, mechanic workshop, cinema house, and eateries among others, operating within the ranks.

    At Banex Junction Taxi Rank, the taxis were not using the ranks because they had been taken over by miscreants who use the space to sell hard drugs, including adulterated fuel and diesel.

    Mrs Deborah Osho, the Head of Operations, DRTS, who led the team, explained that the measure was to give room for more taxis to operate within the ranks.

    This, according to her, will discourage illegal taxi parks across the city on grounds that there is no enough space in the taxi ranks.

    She added that the move would also address the menace of “one chance” operators, who took advantage of the illegal parks to perpetuate their evil deeds.

    She pointed out that most of the taxi ranks were not being used for taxi operations but criminals’ hideout, selling hard drugs.

    Osho explained that the decision to demolish and clear the taxi ranks of illegal structures was reached after a meeting with transport stakeholders on the need for a cleaner and serene environment in the FCT.

    She added that “on Monday, the DRTS invited stakeholders in the transportation sector for a meeting, and one of the resolutions was to clear the taxi ranks for taxis to operate inside the ranks.

    “We have equally handed over a space around Eagle Square for taxi operators to use as temporary, to stop the menace of illegal parks around the Federal Secretariat.

    “We are prepared to clean all taxi ranks in 2024, to ensure that motorists board taxis inside the taxi ranks and not outside.

    “This in the long run, will address the menace of `one chance’ in the city.”

    Dr Peter Olumuji, the Secretary, Command and Control Centre, Department of Security Service, FCTA, said “one chance happens when people do not have a secured taxi rank to board vehicles.

    “After going round with DRTS officials, we noticed that most of the taxi ranks were occupied by people that were not meant to be there.

    “But as we clear these illegal structures, more vehicles will be coming into the ranks so that commuters will be able to board safe and secured taxis to their various destinations.

    “This is a joint effort that will continue.”

    Olumuji said that to sustain the clean taxi ranks operations, there was need for more personnel for DRTS and vehicular assets to move to every nuke and cranny of the city.

    He added that the Department of Development Control also needs more wheel loaders and caterpillars for clearance operations.

    He expressed confidence that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, would provide the manpower and logistics needed to keep the capital city clean and serene.

    Commenting on the development, Mr Richard Siso, the Deputy Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, described the joint effort as the best for transport operators so far.

    He said “this is what we have been asking government to help us do; we thank God that government has listened to us and has come out to clear the parks for us. We are in full support.”

    Also, Mr Oladipupo Ebijuni, the Chairman and Director, Enforcement, Painted Abuja Taxi, said “we are very happy with what is happening here. I want to assure DRTS of our full support.”