Labour Faults Court Suspension Of FCT Workers’ Strike

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticised the National Industrial Court’s ruling suspending the ongoing strike by workers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), describing the decision as unjust and damaging to workers’ interests.

In a statement signed by its acting-general secretary, Benson Upah, the NLC said it was dismayed by the court’s decision delivered yesterday in a suit between the minister of the FCT and workers under the FCT Administration. The court ordered the suspension of the strike and adjourned the matter to March 25, 2026.

While acknowledging that court decisions may not satisfy all parties, the congress argued that the ruling failed to address what it described as persistent violations of labour and social security laws by the FCT authorities. It said the court neither made pronouncements nor granted any injunctive relief concerning alleged statutory breaches affecting workers.

Central to the union’s grievance are claims of non-remittance of workers’ statutory deductions, including contributions to the National Housing Fund (NHF) and pension funds.

According to the statement, existing laws clearly prescribe penalties for employers who fail to remit such deductions within stipulated timelines, including heavy fines and possible jail terms for responsible officials.

The labour centre said the absence of interim reliefs, combined with the long adjournment, effectively left workers exposed and weakened their position.

The statement reads, “We are dismayed by the ruling of the National Industrial Court today, Tuesday, January 27, 2026 in the matter between the Minister of FCT/FCTA versus workers or employees of FCT.

Given this irrefutable truth, we are concerned that the court said nothing or did nothing about the continuous commission of offenses against the teeming workers of FCT by the Minister/FCTA/FCT.”

It added, “It is in light of this that we find it distasteful that the court did not think it necessary to do justice to workers by way of even a tokenistic injuctive relief.

“If the intention of the court is to break the strike as well as weaken the resolve of the injured workers, then it is mistaken! Our hearts can never be broken and workers are urged to remain resolute in their convictions.”

The NLC further accused the FCT minister of escalating tensions by issuing threats of dismissal to workers shortly after the ruling, a development it said undermined any prospects for constructive dialogue.

The labour body warned that the court’s decision would not break the resolve of workers, insisting that the strike action and  agitation were rooted in longstanding grievances. It also extended its warning beyond the FCT, putting other institutions and individuals on notice over alleged violations of pension and housing fund laws.

Calling on workers and labour organs to remain vigilant, the group said it was prepared for what it termed a “serious engagement” to enforce compliance with relevant labour statutes.