Thousands of workers risk losing millions in FISH housing crisis

.JNPSNC urges Head of Service to intervene with FCDA, halt demolition

THOUSANDS of federal civil servants who have invested millions of naira through monthly salary deductions under the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) Programme risk losing their investments, following a demolition order issued against the housing estate by an agency of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

The development has triggered anxiety among subscribers and prompted the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, to petition the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, urging her to engage the FCDA to save the project.

The union warned that failure to resolve the matter could provoke industrial unrest across the Federal Public Service.

In a letter dated June 15, 2026, with reference JNPSNC/COR/VOL.1/204, the JNPSNC appealed to the Head of Service to protect the interest of thousands of workers whose investments are threatened by a demolition notice issued by the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) over houses being developed under the FISH Programme, at Bamishi Cadastral District, in Kuje Area Council, Abuja.

The letter, signed by the National chairman, Comrade Benjamin Anto Uyanto, and the National Secretary, Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga, said many subscribers each contributed at least N3 million towards the Federal Government-backed scheme.

According to the union, the land was allocated in 2021 by the FCDA to Alvera Integrated Services Limited and its partners for the FISH Programme after due diligence by relevant government agencies, including the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

“The allocated lands were subjected to due diligence and verified by relevant government agencies, including the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, in order to ensure that there were no encumbrances, of which there was none,” the letter stated.

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The JNPSNC recalled that the housing scheme was adopted under a Memorandum of Understanding prepared by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, noting that the current Head of Service, Mrs. Walson-Jack, signed the agreement in 2017 as Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office.

The union, however, said subscribers became alarmed after discovering alleged overlapping allocations of the land to third parties and the issuance of a demolition notice by the AMMC.

“This singular development has placed the project and the investment of the subscribing Federal Public Servants at serious risk and extreme jeopardy,” the union stated.

It added that the uncertainty had discouraged prospective subscribers, while existing contributors feared losing their life savings despite subscribing in good faith based on government approvals and assurances.

The council noted that the dispute also threatens to undermine confidence in the Federal Government’s recently approved N10 billion housing mortgage facility for public servants.

The JNPSNC therefore urged the Head of Service to intervene with the FCDA, facilitate an amicable resolution of the dispute, and secure the suspension of any demolition pending its resolution.

Warning of the consequences of inaction, the union said: “The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation should urgently intervene in the interest of Federal Public Servants to avoid backlash that may provoke industrial uproar and unrest.”

The council added that relevant government agencies had been notified and expressed hope that urgent intervention would protect workers’ investments and restore confidence in the Federal Government’s housing programme.