Workers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) have continued their indefinite strike despite a court order directing them to suspend the industrial action and resume work.
The strike, which commenced on January 19, was embarked upon by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) over unresolved welfare concerns. According to the unions, the action is aimed at drawing urgent attention to issues affecting workers’ morale, productivity, and overall welfare.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) joined the strike on Monday in solidarity with their counterparts in the FCTA and FCDA, thereby widening the scope of the industrial action across the territory.
Among the key demands of the workers are the payment of five months’ wage awards, outstanding promotion arrears for 2023 and 2024, full payment of 13 months’ hazard allowance, and 22 months’ rural allowance owed to health workers. The unions are also demanding the remittance of pension and National Housing Fund deductions, an end to alleged intimidation of workers, and improved welfare and working conditions.
However, the National Industrial Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the striking workers to suspend the strike pending further hearing in a suit instituted by the FCT authorities. The order was issued by Justice Emmanuel Subilim following an application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, alongside the FCTA.
Court documents revealed that Wike and the FCTA are listed as claimants in the suit, while leaders of the striking unions, Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh, are named as defendants. The document, dated January 27, 2026, and signed by the court registrar, stated that the application sought an injunction restraining the defendants from continuing the strike action.
Despite the court order, the unions have so far maintained their stance, insisting that their demands must be addressed before work can resume.
