Welfare of our staff topmost for increased productivity – FCT Minister

THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, says the welfare of staff remains his topmost priority for increased productivity.

Bello said this at the inauguration of FCTA Staff Bus Scheme on Friday in Abuja.

He said FCTA staff Bus Scheme was set-up by the present administration to boost the welfare of members of staff for optimal productivity and quality service delivery.

“At the early stage of the present administration, the scheme was conceived as a palliative to cushion the effect of economic hardship and difficulty in transportation of members of staff to and from the office,’’ he said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a committee headed by the Director of Establishment and training, Alhaji Salihu Muhammad, was constituted in November 2016 to work out modality for a short and long term strategy on the operation of staff bus scheme.

The minister said the initial number of buses comprising 25 large capacity buses, would have its monetary value deducted as part of liquidation of the FCTA loans to Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company (AUMTCO).

“In order to boost the operation of this scheme and to make it vibrant, the administration may collaborate with development partners in getting more buses as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

“Let me assure that members of staff would be conveyed at subsidised fares from all the routes within the FCT including Keffi in Nasarawa State and Suleja in Niger to reduce the cost and stress being faced by our staff.

“I want reiterate our resolve to ensure that these vehicles last long through regular maintenance, which must remain our priority because this administration believes in high maintenance culture,’’ he said.

Earlier, FCT Director of Establishment and Training, Alhaji Salihu Muhammad said the inauguration of the scheme has once more demonstrated the commitment of the administration to the welfare of staff.

“The scheme has also added to the minister’s achievements in promoting industrial harmony by ensuring regular payments of salaries to the staff even at the critical time of recession.

“This and other gestures makes it imperative for the staff to reciprocate through commitment to duty, loyalty and increase in productivity in order to enhance service delivery in FCT.

“The introduction of the scheme will no doubt boost the morale of the staff and reduce the stress of their transportation,’’ he said.

Muhammad noted that punctuality of staff would be assured as the buses are expected to ply 11 routes within FCT and neighbouring states to the FCTA Secretariat and back to their various destinations.

“AUMTCO which has the maintenance agreement with the manufacturer of the buses is expected to handle the maintenance of the buses.

“It is hoped that the staff would reciprocate this gesture through commitment and diligence in the performance of their function,’’ he said.

The Chairman, Joint Union Action Committee, Mr Titus Okoro, thank the management for the gesture, promising that the staff would put in their best.