Industrial unrest looms over threatened FCT workers’ housing scheme

Industrial unrest may be brewing in the Federal Public Service following a reported demolition order affecting the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) Programme, a government-backed housing scheme into which thousands of federal workers have invested billions of naira.

 

The demolition order, reportedly issued by the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), an agency of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), affects houses under construction at the Bamishi Cadastral District in Kuje Area Council of the FCT.

 

The development has raised concerns among subscribers whose monthly salary deductions have financed the project, with many fearing the loss of their investments.

 

In response, the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, has petitioned the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Didi Walson-Jack, urging urgent intervention to protect workers’ investments and avert a potential industrial crisis.

 

In the petition dated June 15, 2026, and signed by National Chairman Benjamin Uyanto and National Secretary Olowoyo Gbenga, the union said it was responding to complaints from federal workers who subscribed to the housing scheme.

 

According to the union, the project is located on plots allocated in 2021 by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to Alvera Integrated Services Limited and its partners for the implementation of the scheme.

 

The union said the allocation underwent due diligence and verification by relevant government agencies, including the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, to ensure the land was free from encumbrances.

 

It added that the project was subsequently adopted under the FISH Programme through a Memorandum of Understanding prepared by the Legal Department in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, giving workers confidence to participate through monthly salary deductions.

 

However, the JNPSNC alleged that overlapping land allocations to third parties and the issuance of a demolition notice by the AMMC have placed the project and subscribers’ investments at risk.

 

The union called on the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to engage the FCTA and other relevant authorities to resolve the dispute amicably and suspend any demolition pending the outcome of discussions.

 

It warned that failure to address the concerns of affected workers could trigger widespread dissatisfaction and industrial unrest across the Federal Public Service.

 

As of the time of filing this report, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the FCTA, the AMMC, and the FCDA had not issued any official response to the union’s claims.