Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) resumed their indefinite strike on Thursday, which began on January 19 over unresolved welfare concerns.
Observers noted that only a handful of employees were present across FCTA secretariats, departments, and agencies, in stark contrast to the previous day’s heavy turnout.
The low attendance followed JUAC’s directive for workers to remain at home as the union pursues an appeal against a recent court ruling.
The strike resumption comes after JUAC filed an appeal against the National Industrial Court’s January 27 ruling, which had ordered the suspension of the strike and adjourned the case to March 23. The appeal is being pursued through the union’s lead counsel, Femi Falana, SAN.
Following the court ruling, Mrs. Nancy Nathan, acting Head of the FCTA Civil Service, directed all workers to return to duty on Wednesday.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike also warned that there would be consequences for any worker who failed to resume work. He, however, assured staff that the administration remained open to reasonable negotiations, noting that “the majority of the demands have been addressed.”
Despite these directives, JUAC Secretary Abdullahi Saleh issued a circular on Wednesday instructing workers to continue the strike from Thursday due to the ongoing appeal.
He urged employees “to stay at home and pray for the success of the strike,” emphasizing that the struggle required unity, discipline, and unwavering commitment.
Saleh further highlighted the support of major labour unions, noting that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had, in a joint communiqué on January 28, encouraged FCT workers “to defend their rights with courage and dignity.”
The unions argued that the interlocutory injunction obtained by Wike and the FCTA targeted the President of JUAC, Mrs. Rifkatu Iortyer, and Saleh personally, rather than the trade unions themselves.
In their communiqué, signed by NLC Acting General Secretary Benson Upah and TUC Secretary-General Nuhu Toro, they stressed that the strike would continue “until Wike negotiates with FCT workers.”
