FCTA Workers Begin Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid Promotion Arrears, Others

Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the auspices of the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) have declared an indefinite strike action, commencing from Monday, January 19, 2026, over unpaid promotion arrears, poor working conditions, lack of training, and other entitlements.

FCT JUAC President, Comrade Rifkatu Iortyer, during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja, said the action followed what the union described as the Administration’s breach of trust, inaction, and deliberate demoralisation of its workforce through a litany of unresolved grievances.

In her address titled “A Plethora of Festering Issues,” Comrade Iortyer presented an 11-point indictment of the FCTA management, accusing it of financial malfeasance, systemic failure, and acts of bad faith against employees.

The union highlighted the non-remittance of pension and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions as a serious breach of trust and a threat to the future security of its members.

On the alleged illegal “Elongation” of tenure of senior civil servants, JUAC demanded the immediate removal of retired directors and permanent secretaries, calling their tenure extension a clear contravention of Public Service Rules.

“We are appalled by the illegal extension of tenure of retired officers,” Iortyer stated.

Also, on the mass failure in Promotion Exams, which was one of the strongest accusations, the union outrightly rejected the 2024 promotion exam results.

“We say no to the deliberate mass failure of the 2024 promotion exams with the intention of not paying promotion arrears, the process was a system designed to fail and demoralise our members,” she said.

The union expressed dismay at the Administration’s disregard for an agreement, noting that only one month of a five-month wage award was paid on January 14.

“This is a clear breach of trust and a slap in the face of our hardworking members,” Iortyer said.

JUAC also blamed the centralisation of salary preparation for persistent salary shortfall and irregularities, demanding that desk officers in various departments handle their own payroll.

Other grievances included lack of training and the non-payment of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) enforcement officers.

“We demand immediate action on these issues. We will not be silenced by inaction. It is on this note that I declare an indefinite strike action open on Monday the 19th of January 2026,” she said.

The strike action is set to paralyse operations across the FCTA’s Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies (SDAs) from the start of the work week, potentially disrupting critical services in the nation’s capital.