*’FCTA Has Litany Of Sins’
*Wike, FCTA Yet To Respond
By Felix Durumbah, Abuja
More trouble is coming the way of Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, over the ongoing indefinite strike embarked upon by the 40,000-strong workforce of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), as Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has today thrown its hat in the ring -in the workers’ corner.
The staff members have been on strike since Monday to press home their demands for better conditions of service, with the Wike-led Administration claiming,in a statement,that it had implemented, or is in the process of implementing, most of the demands -a claim roundly rejected by the workers’ umbrella Joint Unions Action Congress (JUAC) in a swift, counter statement.
The Minister subsequently took a recourse to the National Industrial Court (NIC) on Wednesday in a bid to end the paralyzing strike -a move greeted with harsh criticisms on social media as many Nigerians urged him to rather meet face-to-face with the workers’ leadership to negotiate the demands amicably.
For the projected legal battle, the Minister and FCTA, as first and second claimants respectively, lined up an arsenal of three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) and two other legal practitioners.
Not fazed, JUAC urged workers to press on with the strike till victory is secured for “an injury to one is an injury to all” even as unconfirmed reports said 12 SANs had offered free legal representation to the workers.
Apparently riled by the position of FCTA authorities on the strike matter, NLC has now backed the FCTA workers.
In a statement titled ‘We Stand With FCTA Workers: This Tyranny Must Stop’, and personally signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the Nigerian workers’ umbrella body blasted Wike and FCTA for allegedly treating staff members with impunity over their legal labour rights and engaging in several illegal practices that mortgage the present and future of the employees.
NLC vowed to escalate the strike.
The statement in full:
“WE STAND WITH FCTA WORKERS: THIS TYRANNY MUST STOP
“The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), stands in very strong solidarity with the
workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the aegis
of the Joint Unions Action Congress (JUAC).
“Their ongoing total and indefinite
strike action is not merely justified; it is a necessary and heroic response to a
vicious cocktail of neoliberal attacks, gross administrative impunity, and a
systematic violation of the fundamental rights of workers by the FCTA
management and its political leadership.
“After the petition and consequent consultation with the leaders of JUAC, in
which the unfortunate deliberate and calculated assault on the working class
within the nation’s capital was laid bare, the need for concerted action became
obvious. The litany of sins committed by the FCTA regime is a textbook case of
capitalist exploitation and bureaucratic oppression:
“The case of Wage abuse was well established. The illegal withholding of five
months’ Wage Award and promotion arrears is not an administrative lapse but
a brazen denial of workers’ legitimate earnings, a direct attack on their
livelihoods and a violation of the constitutional guarantee of remuneration.
“The non-remittance of pension contributions since May 2025 and National
Housing Fund deductions is an act of economic sabotage against both active and
retired workers, condemning them to a destitute old age. This is capital accumulation by dispossession, plain and simple. It is unacceptable.
“The intimidation of staff, including bans on phone usage and incarceration of
workers, is fascistic tactic designed to cripple workers’ solidarity and silence
dissent, in utter contempt of constitutional rights and international labour
conventions.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) therefore declares and directs:
“1. A total escalation of the Industrial action. All affiliate unions within the
Federal Capital Territory are hereby directed to fully align with and intensify the ongoing industrial action. This struggle is now the struggle of every worker in the FCT.
“2. All workers to mobilize to the Court on Monday, the 26th of January, 2026. In pursuit of justice and to demonstrate our collective resolve, all workers in the Federal Capital Territory are directed to converge en-masse at the National Industrial Court on Monday, the 26th of January 2026, where matters pertaining to this struggle will be heard. Let the court premises be filled with the dignified presence of the working class, sending an unmistakable message of our unity and determination.
“3. All workers to begin Days of compulsory Prayer sessions from 8:0OAM to 5:00PM. Workers are therefore directed to commence daily Prayer and Solidarity Sessions at designated venues across the FCT. These sessions will serve as a continuous spiritual and moral assembly to fortify our
resolve and spotlight our righteous cause until all demands are met.
“4. We mandate all trade unions in the FCT Working with the NLC FCT council
to immediately forge a formidable alliance with Civil Society Organisations
(CSOs), student groups, community activists, and the broader masses.
“This is no longer just a labour dispute; it is a people’s struggle against an
insensitive administration. Together, we shall make this action total, compelling, and impossible to ignore.
“The NLC warns the FCTA management and the political leadership that the
patience of the working class is exhausted. Their ultimatum was and is our
ultimatum. Their demands are our demands.
“Unless these issues are quickly
resolved, we will strengthen this struggle to ensure that abuse of workers rights is mitigated and their dignity restored.
“To the workers of the FCTA, NLC says: Your struggle is our struggle. Your victory will be a victory for every exploited worker in Nigeria.
Stand firm! No retreat, no surrender!
“A people united, can never be defeated! Workers united, can never be
defeated!
“Comrade Joe Ajaero /President.”
As of press time, FCTA authorities were yet to respond.
*PHOTO CAPTION: NLC President Joe Ajaero.
