FCT workers defy union’s directive, resume at duty post
Civil servants in the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday began returning to their duty posts, defying a directive by organised labour to continue an ongoing strike, following a court order suspending the industrial action.
The development followed Tuesday’s ruling by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which ordered workers under the Joint Union Action Committee to suspend the strike and allow room for dialogue, triggering mixed reactions across ministries, departments, and agencies in Abuja.
By Wednesday morning, activities had started picking up at the Federal Capital Territory Administration and its affiliated MDAs, with workers seen resuming work after a seven day shutdown that disrupted public offices, schools, and essential services in the nation’s capital.
The strike, which grounded government operations, took a decisive turn when the court, presided over by Justice E. D. Subilim, directed that the industrial action be halted forthwith, stressing that disputes already before the court should not be escalated through strikes.
Following the ruling, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, at a press briefing called on workers to immediately return to work, emphasising that while the right to protest is recognised in a democracy, obedience to court orders remains fundamental to the rule of law.
Wike assured workers that the FCT Administration remained open to dialogue, noting that strike action should be a last resort and that the government was committed to addressing genuine welfare concerns within the legal framework.
To enforce compliance with the court order, the Acting Head of the Civil Service of the FCT, Mrs Nancy Sabanti, issued a circular directing all secretariats, departments, and agencies to reopen offices and strictly monitor staff attendance.
The circular, dated January 27, 2026, instructed permanent secretaries and heads of MDAs to ensure the immediate resumption of duties by workers, while reaffirming the administration’s commitment to staff welfare and industrial harmony.
However, the situation became more complicated as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), issued a counter directive, instructing its Abuja based affiliates to ignore the court ruling and sustain the strike until all demands were met.
The conflicting directives placed many workers in a difficult position, torn between complying with government backed court orders and remaining loyal to organised labour’s call to continue the industrial action.
Organised labour on Wednesday doubled down on its stance, insisting that the strike should continue despite the court order and the gradual resumption of work by some civil servants across the Federal Capital Territory.
The labour leaders maintained that the industrial action would only be suspended after all outstanding demands were fully addressed.
In a circular jointly signed by the Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Benson Upah, and the Secretary General, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Nuhu Toro, directed the FCT workers to sustain and intensify the strike.
The organised labour accused the FCT Administration of failing to engage workers in good faith and warned that backing down at this stage could weaken collective bargaining efforts.
Labour listed unresolved issues to include unpaid wage awards, promotion arrears, non-remittance of pension and National Housing Fund deductions, as well as allegations of intimidation and harassment of workers by authorities. According to the unions, these grievances justified the continuation of the strike.
In a strongly worded joint statement, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) criticised the FCT Minister and the National Industrial Court ruling, alleging that the decision was aimed at breaking the strike rather than resolving the dispute. The unions accused the administration of resorting to threats instead of dialogue.
The labour centres further argued that the interlocutory injunction obtained by the FCT authorities was directed at specific union leaders and not the unions themselves, insisting that this left the strike intact and legally defensible. They urged workers to remain resolute and not be intimidated.
“Today, we (NLC and TUC) find it necessary to issue a joint statement of support in solidarity with the workers of Federal Capital Territory who have been shabbily treated by the Minister of FCT, Mr Wike and rubber-stamped by an Abuja National Industrial Court in a one-sided ruling intended to break up the strike and make workers perpetual slaves.
“As patently skewed as the ruling was, we had thought Mr Wike would use the window to reach out to organised labour for an amicable resolution of the issues, but he had boastfully resorted to threats against workers.
“Accordingly, we not only support the workers in this action, we urge them to maintain high morale in the face of relentless threats.
“Finally, this strike continues until the Minister of FCT comes off his high horse and negotiates with the workers.”
Meanwhile, the conflicting instructions have created uncertainty among thousands of FCTA workers, many of whom now fear possible disciplinary action if they comply with union directives or accusations of betrayal if they resume work.
Some workers, who spoke anonymously, described the situation as a struggle for survival rather than loyalty to ideology.
Analysts say the standoff highlights deeper tensions in Nigeria’s labour relations system, particularly the delicate balance between judicial authority and union mobilisation.
They warned that prolonged defiance of court orders or heavy-handed enforcement by government could escalate tensions and trigger wider labour actions.
