Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) on Thursday resumed the indefinite strike they began on January 19, citing unresolved welfare concerns.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that only a handful of workers were present across FCTA secretariats, departments and agencies, a sharp contrast to the large turnout recorded on Wednesday. The low presence followed a JUAC directive instructing workers to stay at home.
The renewed strike action comes after JUAC appealed the ruling of the National Industrial Court delivered on January 27, which had ordered workers to suspend the strike and adjourned the case to March 23. The appeal was filed through JUAC’s lead counsel, Femi Falana, SAN.
Following the court ruling, the Acting Head of the Civil Service of the FCTA, Mrs Nancy Nathan, directed all FCT workers to resume duty on Wednesday. The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, also warned that there would be consequences for any worker who failed to return to work.
Wike, however, assured workers that the FCTA remained open to reasonable negotiations, adding that most of the workers’ demands had already been addressed.
Despite these assurances, JUAC announced the continuation of the strike. In a circular issued on Wednesday, JUAC Secretary Abdullahi Saleh informed workers that the industrial action would resume from Thursday.
He urged workers to remain at home and pray for the success of the strike, stressing that the struggle required unity, discipline, and unwavering commitment.
Saleh also referenced a joint communiqué issued on January 28 by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which encouraged FCT workers to defend their rights with courage and dignity.
The labour unions argued that the interlocutory injunction obtained by Wike and the FCTA was directed at the President of JUAC, Mrs Rifkatu Iortyer, and Saleh, and not against the trade unions themselves.
In a communiqué signed by NLC Acting General Secretary Benson Upah and TUC Secretary General Nuhu Toro, the unions insisted that the strike would continue until the FCT minister enters into negotiations with the workers.
