By Abdul Jelil Adebayo
Dateline Abuja, Thursday, August 21st, 2025. Event was the meeting/workshop of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employee (AUPCTRE). And with the theme “AUPCTRE AS A TRADE UNION; SURVIVING AMIDST STIFF COMPETITION”.
Venue was the Area Councils Service Commission, Area 3, Abuja.
It was a gathering of union veterans and labour leaders including the National President, AUPCTRE Comrade Benjamin Anthony.
The Acting. General Secretary, AUPCTRE Comrade Lawrence I. Alo. Others were the FCT Controller and Zonal Director (North Central Zone),
Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olugbami.
All State Executives Council (SEC) members.
All National Coordinating Committee (NCC) members in FCT
All Chairpersons and Secretaries of FCT Abuja Branches
Members of FCT Council Youth Committee
Members of the FCT Council Women Committee
Some Veterans of the Union.
The State Governing Council (SGC) of AUPCTRE deliberated on issues of interest to her members, the Union, Nigerian Workers and the nation in general.
Among issues discussed was the insincerity of the Federal Government over the negotiation and implementation of the New Minimum Wage.
According to the meeting, Federal workers have reported that they were only paid insignificant sum of forty thousand (N40,000) flat rate as minimum wage. The question on every worker’s mind is what happened to the salary relativity
More worrisome, according to AUPCTRE, is the dwindling payment of Peculiar allowance within MDAs and the non-completion of payment of wage award of N35,000.00 agreed between the Organised Labour and Federal Government before commencement of the deceitful minimum wage.
The SGC-In-Session, therefore called on Federal Government to keep to his promises as Nigeria Workers are seriously suffering.
The issue of Jurisdictional Scope as its affects AUPCTRE has become very worrisome considering the misinterpretation given by some Government Agencies and other sisters Union.
The SGC-In-Session therefore sensitized her members on the rights of workers to voluntarily belong to any Union of their choice for the protection of their rights without being forced in line with Trade Union Amendment Act 2005.
The right of workers to belong to Trade Union of their choice is also guaranteed under Section 40 of the Constitution, Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)
The SGC-In-Session therefore condemned in totality the “punitive transfer meted on our members who are workers of CAC. Though, the SGC-In-Session was informed that some Executives and members were transferred back to Abuja Head office but fifteen (15) members and executives are still on punitive transfer to different states.”
The SGC-In-Session therefore called on the National President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, to expedite action as the matter has been apprehended by NLC. The SGC-In-Session also call on the Registrar General and Management of CAC to reverse the punitive transfer meted out on Union leaders and also allow workers to voluntarily belong to Union of their choice.
The SGC-In-Session also frowned on the interference on Union membership by some management staff at Federal Housing Authority (FHA). “It was reported that some Account staff and others are forcing staff by choosing which union to belong against their wish.”
The SGC-In-Session therefore frowned at this development and resolved that the management should be engaged in order to have a rancor free working environment.
The SGC-In-Session also said it was disturbed about the unresolved issues at NIGERIA COMMODITY EXCHANGE (NCX)
“It was reported that the Managing Director, Mr. Anthony Atuche, who was dragged by the Union to the supervisory Ministry of Trade and Investment to resolve lingering issues has not deemed it fit to implement the resolution reached with him at the meeting since 7th November, 2024. More worrisome is the non-implementation of National Minimum wage and continuous stagnation of members. Another serious issue is the unilateral dismissal of a Senior Staff who is also Chairperson NCX Branch of the Union, Comrade (Dr) Murtala Ejalonibu without due process, Public Service Rules and Administrative Policy.”
The SGC-In-Session resolved that letters should be written to the Chief of Staff to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Honourable Minister and Permanent Secretary of Trade and Investment and other relevant Agencies of Government in other to restore sanity in NCX.
In his welcome address, Chairperson AUPCTRE FCT
Comr (Dr.) Aliyu Maradun urged the participants to deliberate on issues of interest to her members, the Union, Nigerian Workers and the nation in general.
He also urged them to deliberate extensively on the Socio-economic and Political challenges affecting the Union, Nigerian workers, the downtrodden masses and the Nigeria Nation at large.
Maradun said that all hands must be on deck to ensure that “our members are sustained.”
He promised for continuous and timely conduct of a Capacity Building Workshop for SGC members and Veterans
He promised that the union leadership will continue in their efforts at training, sensitizing and servicing until all members of AUPCTRE are well informed.
The over 200 participants comprising branch Chairmen and Secretaries commended the FCT union leadership for its relentless efforts in fighting for the rights of its members.
Abdul is Abuja based journalist and wrote in through abduljelil2001@gmail.com
This is an interlegent Summitt and decision make to rescue worker in the hands of inhuman leaders that we had never experienced for decades.