FCT Strike Persists as Workers Defy Court Order, Schools and Hospitals Remain Shut
The industrial action by striking unions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has continued unabated, despite a subsisting court order directing workers to return to their duty posts.
PulseNets learnt that staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), operating under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), commenced an indefinite strike on January 19 over unresolved welfare-related grievances.
JUAC embarked on the action to press for urgent government intervention in what it described as persistent welfare challenges negatively affecting workers’ “morale and productivity.”
PulseNets reported that the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) joined the strike on Monday, declaring solidarity with their counterparts in the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
Among the key demands of the striking workers are the payment of five months’ wage awards, outstanding promotion arrears for 2023 and 2024, full settlement of 13 months’ hazard allowance, and 22 months’ rural allowance owed to health workers.
Other issues raised include the remittance of pension and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions, an end to alleged intimidation of workers, as well as improved welfare packages and working conditions across the service.
Meanwhile, the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja had on Tuesday ordered the FCTA workers to suspend the strike pending further hearing of a suit filed by the FCT authorities seeking to halt the industrial action.
PulseNets obtained court documents indicating that the order was issued by Justice Emmanuel Subilim following an application brought before the court by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, alongside the FCTA.
The suit, dated Tuesday, January 27, 2026, listed Wike and the FCTA as claimants, while leaders of the striking unions, Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh, were named as defendants.
According to the document signed by the court registrar, the application sought “an order of injunction to restrain the Defendants in the manner sought on the face of the motion paper.”
Strike persists across councils
PulseNets observed that despite the industrial court’s directive, compliance on the ground remains low, with many workers yet to resume duties.
A visit to several public facilities on Wednesday revealed that healthcare centres and schools across Bwari Area Council were still shut.
Students of Government Day Secondary School, Dutse Alhaji, Junior Secondary School, Ushafa, and LEA Primary School, Ushafa, were reportedly sent home as early as 8:00am.
An official of LEA Primary School, Ushafa, who spoke to PulseNets on condition of anonymity, said there was no internal communication indicating that the strike had been suspended.
According to the official, “There is no memo to show that the strike has been called off. The court order was directed at the union leaders, not the entire workforce.”
He added, “The order mentioned only Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh, and I believe they have resumed work.”
‘Those who declared the strike have resumed’ — Wike’s aide
Reacting to the development, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, told PulseNets that those who initiated the strike had already returned to their offices.
Olayinka suggested that workers who remain absent may not yet be aware of the suspension directive.
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He stated, “The strike was not declared by the NUT. Those who declared the strike have resumed work and were in their offices today.”
He further explained, “If some workers have not resumed, it may be because they have not received the correct information. By tomorrow, I am confident they should all be back at work.”
