FCTA workers, NLC protest at Industrial Court

Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday staged a protest at the National Industrial Court in Abuja, joined by leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to oppose what they described as ongoing violations of their rights by the FCTA management and political leadership.

Hundreds of workers carried placards with messages such as “Wike Must Go!”, “Abuja No Be Rivers!”, “Pay Promotion Arrears”, and “Enough is Enough” as the court began hearing a suit filed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike against the striking unions.

A protesting staff member said, “We are not slaves in our own city.

“Abuja workers deserve respect and fair treatment.”

The NLC, which has declared full support for the strike, said the industrial action is justified due to the “continuous neglect of workers’ welfare, unpaid entitlements, and suppression of labour rights” by the FCTA leadership.

“This strike is not about politics—it’s about justice and dignity for Abuja workers,” an NLC representative added.

The indefinite strike, declared last week by the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), has disrupted operations across major government offices in the FCT, affecting administrative and environmental services.

In response, Minister Wike and the FCTA have taken the union to court over the industrial action.

The suit, filed under case number NICN/ABJ/17/2026, names JUAC President Rifkatu Iortyer and Secretary-General Abdullahi Saleh as defendants in their representative capacities.

The National Industrial Court, Abuja Division, adjourned the case to Tuesday.

A JUAC member vowed, “We will not be intimidated by court cases or threats. We only want what is rightfully ours.”