- The labour body also condemned what it described as acts of intimidation against workers, including restrictions on phone usage
- the NLC announced daily prayer and solidarity gatherings from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. across designated locations in the FCT
- According to Ajaero, the withholding of five months’ wage awards and promotion arrears goes beyond administrative lapses
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its weight behind the ongoing indefinite strike embarked upon by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over unpaid wage awards, promotion arrears, and unremitted pension deductions.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the industrial action, coordinated by the Joint Unions Action Congress (JUAC), commenced on Monday and has since crippled activities across several FCTA offices in Abuja. The workers accuse the administration of repeatedly ignoring long-standing demands, including delayed salaries and outstanding promotion-related entitlements.
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In a statement released on Friday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the congress reviewed a formal petition submitted by JUAC and concluded that FCTA workers were being subjected to what he described as a deliberate and systematic attack on the working class.
According to Ajaero, the withholding of five months’ wage awards and promotion arrears goes beyond administrative lapses, describing it as a direct violation of workers’ constitutional right to fair remuneration and a threat to their livelihoods.
He further raised concerns over the alleged failure to remit pension contributions and National Housing Fund deductions since May 2025, warning that such actions expose both serving and retired workers to economic hardship in the future. Ajaero described the situation as unacceptable and harmful to the welfare of workers.
Meanwhile, officials of the FCTA have countered the claims, insisting that progress has been made. The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, stated that 10 out of the 14 demands presented by the unions had already been addressed, while work was ongoing to resolve the remaining issues.
However, JUAC rejected the administration’s position, maintaining that no binding agreement had been reached and that none of the alleged resolutions had been fully implemented or independently verified.
The labour body also condemned what it described as acts of intimidation against workers, including restrictions on phone usage and reports of unlawful detention of staff. It warned that such actions undermine workers’ rights and violate both constitutional provisions and international labour standards.
In response, the NLC ordered a full escalation of the strike, directing all its affiliate unions within the FCT to fully mobilise and align with the ongoing industrial action. Workers were also instructed to converge at the National Industrial Court on Monday, January 26, 2026, where issues related to the dispute are scheduled for hearing.
Additionally, the NLC announced daily prayer and solidarity gatherings from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. across designated locations in the FCT, describing the exercise as a moral and spiritual mobilisation aimed at sustaining workers’ resolve until their demands are met.
Despite the disruption, the FCTA maintained that payment of the five months’ wage award has commenced, while allowances such as hazard and rural allowances for health workers have been settled.
The administration also disclosed that promotion arrears approved in December 2025 were being processed, alongside measures to address tenure, training, and compliance with public service regulations.
The strike has continued to disrupt government operations in Abuja, with JUAC insisting that the action will not be suspended until all demands are fully implemented. The union urged workers to remain united, dismissing claims that key issues had been resolved.
The NLC also called on trade unions within the FCT to work with civil society groups, student bodies, and community organisations, describing the dispute as a broader struggle against what it termed an insensitive administration.
It warned that workers’ patience had been stretched thin and vowed to sustain the action until workers’ rights are respected and their dignity restored.
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