Strike: FCTA Workers Defy Union’s Directive, Resume Work

Some workers in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have defied the directive by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) to continue its industrial action, resuming normal duties in their offices yesterday.

JUAC, in a statement signed on Wednesday by its secretary, Comrade Abdullahi Umar Saleh, had directed the workers to remain at home.

“The Joint Union Action Committee, therefore, directs as follows: That the strike continues as earlier declared by the JUAC. That staff are encouraged to stay at home to continuously participate in daily prayers for the success of the strike,” the statement reads.

However, members of staff of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) reported for duty yesterday.

The workers said their action was in obedience to a court ruling.

“The court has said we should come to work, and we have no option but to comply.

Also, this is the last week of January, and we are expecting our salaries. If we don’t come to work, how will we get paid?” an FCTA staff member said.

The union’s directive to continue the strike came a day after the National Industrial Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, granted an interlocutory injunction filed by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration, compelling the workers to suspend the action.

In the ruling, Justice E.D. Subilim held that although the matter amounted to a trade dispute and met the required legal conditions, the defendants’ right to embark on industrial action was not absolute.

The judge ruled that workers are prohibited from embarking on a strike once a dispute has been referred to the National Industrial Court, adding that any ongoing strike must cease pending the determination of the case.

“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the claimants and their representatives… from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimant. The order shall remain in force pending the determination of this suit,” Justice Subilim said.

Prior to the union’s Wednesday directive, the acting head of the FCT Civil Service, Nancy Sabanti, had issued a circular on January 27, 2026, directing all Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies (SDAs) to open and maintain strict attendance registers to ensure compliance with the court order.

The circular instructed permanent secretaries and heads of departments, parastatals and agencies to enforce the immediate resumption of duties, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to staff welfare.