FCT Workers Maintain Strike Despite Court Injunction
Workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have continued their industrial action despite a National Industrial Court order directing union leaders to suspend the strike. The action, which began on January 19, 2026, remains in effect across healthcare facilities and schools in the territory.
The strike, initiated by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), aims to press for urgent resolution of welfare concerns affecting worker morale and productivity. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) joined the action in solidarity on Monday.
Workers’ Demands
Key demands include 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 for health workers. Other requests cover remittance of pension and National Housing Fund deductions, cessation of worker intimidation, and overall improvement of staff welfare and working conditions.
Court Intervention
On Tuesday, January 27, the National Industrial Court in Abuja ordered the striking union leaders, Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh, to suspend the industrial action pending further hearing. The order was issued in a suit filed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the FCTA. A court document dated January 27 indicates that the application was for an injunction to restrain the defendants as outlined in the motion.
Strike Continues
Despite the court order, most healthcare facilities and schools in the Bwari Area Council remain closed. Students at Government Day Secondary School, Dutse Alhaji, Junior Secondary School, Ushafa, and LEA Primary School, Ushafa, were sent home by 8 a.m. on Wednesday. An official at LEA Primary School, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained that the court order applied specifically to the union leaders and not all workers.
FCTA Response
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media to Minister Wike, stated that union leaders who declared the strike have resumed work. He noted that other workers may not have received accurate information about the suspension. “The strike was not declared by the NUT. Those who declared the strike have resumed. They were in their offices today. If other people have not resumed, maybe they have not gotten the correct information. I’m sure that by tomorrow they should be at work,” Olayinka said.
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