FCT workers shut down Abuja as indefinite strike begins

Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority on Monday began an indefinite strike, bringing government activities across Abuja to a halt.

The industrial action led to the shutdown of government offices, including the FCTA Secretariat.

Around 8am, operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police Force were seen stationed at the FCTA gate, barring workers from entering the premises.

A security operative, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Staff of FCDA, FCTA are not allowed into the office premises because of the strike.”

The strike is expected to affect operations across all FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils and parastatals within the Federal Capital Territory.

The action followed a notice issued by workers on Friday, declaring their intention to shut down government offices across the FCT and its area councils. The decision was taken by the Joint Union Action Congress, which directed workers across all cadres to withdraw their services over what it described as unresolved labour and welfare concerns.

It was gathered that the strike followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to FCTA management, which the unions said was ignored despite several engagements during the period.

The ultimatum, which took effect on January 7, 2026, was contained in a statement dated January 8 and signed by the JUAC President, Rifkatu Iortyer, and the Secretary, Abdullahi Saleh. Copies were also forwarded to the Minister of State for the FCT, the Chief of Staff, the Head of Service and the Director of Security Services.

Speaking to journalists at the FCT Secretariat on Monday, JUAC Vice President Musa Istifanus said the strike became inevitable after repeated efforts to engage the FCT administration and the minister failed.

“The reason for being here, you can see that we are shutting down the gates of FCTA, FCDA and all our parastatals and agencies. The reason is that everybody knows that the main issue is our welfare. Since the inception of this administration, we have been having issues with the management of FCTA and the Minister of FCT.

“He has refused to meet with the union. The union is a stakeholder of every organisation. The minister has refused to talk to us,” Istifanus said.

He noted that workers are faced with several unresolved welfare issues, including promotion matters.

“There are so many issues, welfare issues. We have issues like promotion. I think last year, in June, we had a protest here. The management called us, and we resolved some issues. We thought everything would be fine. But since that time, nothing has happened,” he added.

Istifanus also criticised the 2024 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission, describing it as deeply flawed.

“But the issue of promotion of 2024, the promotion was conducted last November and it was a mass failure. It was conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission. They used CBT.

“That was the first time the FCTA administration is using CBT, which we appealed to them that the staff should be trained before the exam is conducted, but nothing happened,” he said.

He alleged that the exercise was plagued by technical challenges that were ignored by authorities.

“Even when they were writing the exams, there were so many glitches. We communicated, we talked, but the computers were not working. Still, the chairman FCT service commission did not listen to the staff,” he said.

On the outcome of the promotion exercise, Istifanus said a majority of candidates failed.

“By the grace of God, I think last week or the last two weeks, the promotion was released. It was so bad that so many people out of 100%, 75% failed that exam. Do you call it an exam? So I think that is the number one reason we are here,” he stated.

He further accused the administration of failing to fully implement an approved wage award and defaulting on pension remittances.

“There is this issue of wage award, which the minister approved for FCT staff, and they promised that that money was going to be paid immediately since September last year.

“But it was just last week that one month out of five months was paid because they heard that we were mobilising,” he said.

Istifanus also alleged that pension contributions and other statutory deductions had not been remitted.

“They have not remitted our pensions since May last year. This contributory pension, FCT staff, national housing and so many things,” he said.

According to him, repeated attempts to secure a meeting with the FCT Minister have failed.

“We have called several times, we want a peaceful meeting with him so that we can let him know what the FCT staff are going through. But this man has refused to meet with the staff,” he said.

Describing the strike as indefinite, Istifanus said it would only be suspended if the workers’ demands were addressed.

“We don’t know. If the minister is meeting with us today and our issues are resolved, we will definitely call it off today. But for now, we cannot tell you how the strike is going. It’s indefinite.”