The staff of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) on Tuesday embarked on an indefinite strike over the non-implementation of a new salary structure.
The workers vowed not to return to work until their demands are implemented.
An Assistant Director on the board, Udeme Umanah said the industrial action is coming after the expiration of the several ultimatums given to the FCT Administration by the workers.
He added that the AEPB is an autonomous agency established under the AEPB Act of 1997 which places it in a different salary structure from the FCT Administration.
He said the Act enables the board to employ its staff while the FCT minister appoints the Director of the board.
Mr. Umanah lamented that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) wants the AEPB to be a department under the administration.
“Despite the functions that are very sensitive and hazardous, the National Salary and Income Wages Commission recommends CONHESS salary structures to AEPB.
“AEPB staff are grouped into two: the environmental and administrative staff,” he said.
“The presidential committee approved the same salary structure as the National Salary and Income Wages Commission which was forwarded to the FCTA in 2021.
“They commence the CONHESS salary structure in January 2020. The Health, Agric, and Social Development Secretariat; and the FCT-IRS are on different salary structures.
“We gave the administration 21 days' notice to implement the salary structures for AEPB. We gave them seven days and finally, we gave them three days' notice.
“It was after the expiration of the three days’ notice that the Minister called us, and agreed to implement the salary structure and pleaded that we should not go on strike and that we should give them two weeks to sort it out.
“By last Friday, our two weeks noticed expired and by Monday, we embarked on an indefinite strike and we are not ready to go back until they implement our salary structure.”
