The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), says it will implement the national minimum wage for workers in the territory to avert another strike.

Hajia Ramatu Aliyu, FCT Minister of State, said this in a statement issued by her Special Assistant on Media, Mr Austin Elemue, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Aliyu made the promise when she received the House of Representatives Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters in her office.

Primary school teachers in the FCT and the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees recently embarked on industrial action over the non-implementation of the National Minimum Wage.

The minister, who however, informed the committee members that the unions had called off the strike, assured that the administration was addressing the issue to avert another action.

“Let me state that immediately after the two unions threatened to embark on the strike, we engaged all stakeholders with a view to finding a solution to the problem.

“This led to the constitution of a Multi-Stakeholder Ministerial Committee on the implementation of the new National Minimum wage in area councils and local education authorities of the six area councils.

“Currently, the cheering news is that the striking teachers and local government workers have agreed to call off the strike and allow for processes that will provide a permanent solution to the problem.’’

On the impact of the COVID-19 in the territory, the minister said that the lockdowns had negatively affected social and economic activities in the FCT.

She said that analysis by the Nigerian Living Standards Survey (NLSS) showed fewer persons engaged in economic activities in June and July during the pandemic.

According to her, the number of people who were working was down by around 14 per cent.

“Food insecurity appears to be prevalent with about 72 per cent of households in the FCT reported to have skipped meals due to financial crunch, since the start of the pandemic.

Rep. Ahmed Tijani, Chairman of the committee, promised to assist the administration, especially on issues that would lead to speedy development of the area councils. (NAN)