ABUJA, Jan. 24, 2026 — Activities across Nigeria’s federal capital remained severely disrupted on Saturday after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) formally backed the ongoing indefinite strike by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), escalating a confrontation that has grounded key public services and shut many government offices.
The action is being driven by the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), an umbrella body for unions within the FCTA and related agencies. The dispute centres on longstanding welfare demands, including the non-payment of promotion arrears, delays in implementing promotions, and complaints over statutory deductions such as pension contributions and National Housing Fund (NHF) payments.
As the strike tightened its grip on Abuja, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the FCTA moved the dispute to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja Division, citing alleged picketing, obstruction and the shutdown of government activities. The suit—marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026—is before Justice E. D. Subilim, with the minister and the FCTA listed as claimants.
Court documents referenced in the filing show the claimants are seeking orders restraining JUAC and its agents from “picketing, lockouts or any form of action” targeting the FCTA leadership and departments, arguing that continued disruption could trigger a broader breakdown of administrative and economic activities in the territory.
In a ruling delivered on Jan. 21, the court granted the FCTA leave to serve processes on JUAC officials through substituted means—by publication in a national newspaper and by pasting at JUAC’s office at the FCTA Secretariat in Area 11, Garki. The matter was adjourned to Jan. 26, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.
JUAC, however, insisted the strike remains in force despite the court action, urging workers to continue staying away from work until its demands are met.
The standoff raises the stakes for both sides: for unions, a test of leverage over delayed entitlements; for the FCTA, a bid to restore governance continuity in the nation’s capital while the legal process unfolds.
