FCTA Workers Defy Court Order, Refuse To Resume Duties

FCTA Workers Defy Court Order, Refuse To Resume Duties
Unions insist unresolved welfare issues remain
Workers vow to stay home until demands are met

Workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration on Tuesday said they would not return to work, despite a ruling by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria directing the immediate suspension of their industrial action.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the court had earlier granted an interlocutory injunction sought by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCTA, restraining the workers from embarking on or continuing any strike action.

However, members of the Joint Union Action Committee, representing the aggrieved workers, rejected the directive and insisted they would remain away from their offices until their demands are fully addressed.

The workers, who gathered in Abuja shortly after the court ruling, maintained that unresolved welfare issues compelled their decision to stay at home rather than resume duties.

They restated their demands to include the payment of outstanding salary arrears, implementation of promotion arrears, and the provision of essential working tools, stressing that court orders alone would not resolve their grievances.

One of the workers said, “Let them open the gate wide. We are in our houses. No wahala oh. We are no longer on strike. Tell them. Wike has won. Let them open all the gates. We are going to remain in our houses. When they meet our demands, we will come back to work.”

The worker added that the unions were not seeking confrontation with the authorities but were determined to protect the welfare of staff members.

“We are not struggling with them. The life of every FCTA staff matters to us. Nobody will struggle with them. They have the gun, the power and the resources but the people’s power is more than their own,” the worker said.

He further stated, “We are gallant FCTA workers. We have the right to be respected. This is our land and we are not second class citizens here. You can’t be treated badly and then come to your own country and suffer this. We say enough is enough.”

The development suggests a prolonged standoff between the FCTA workers and the administration, despite judicial intervention aimed at restoring normal operations.