NLC, FCTA Workers Stage Protest At Industrial Court

Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress, on Monday picketed the National Industrial Court in Abuja as part of an ongoing total and indefinite strike over unresolved labour disputes.

The protest followed a directive by the NLC declaring full support for the industrial action, which it described as justified in view of what it called persistent violations of workers’ rights by the FCTA management and political leadership.

Hundreds of protesters gathered at the court premises, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Wike must go!!”, “Abuja no be Rivers”, “Pay promotion arrears”, “Enough is Enough” and “No working tools”.

The industrial action is being coordinated by the Joint Unions Action Congress, which said it remains open to dialogue but would not be swayed by misinformation, intimidation or divide and rule tactics. The union vowed that the strike would continue until its core demands are met.

In a statement, the NLC described the strike as “a necessary and heroic response to a vicious cocktail of neoliberal attacks, gross administrative impunity, and a systematic violation of the fundamental rights of workers by the FCTA management and the political leadership,” and urged its affiliate unions to mobilise in solidarity.

The protesting workers are demanding, among other issues, the payment of unpaid promotion arrears, outstanding pension and National Housing Fund remittances, provision of working tools and the removal of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

FCTA officials, however, said significant progress had been made, insisting that 10 out of the 14 demands presented by the unions had already been addressed. They said these include the commencement of payment of a five month wage award and the settlement of long standing hazard and rural allowances, while the remaining issues are being handled administratively.

Amid the standoff, Minister Wike filed a suit at the National Industrial Court seeking to restrain the unions from continuing the strike. The case was scheduled for hearing on Monday, the same day workers converged on the court to protest.

The strike has led to the shutdown of several FCTA offices and has raised concerns over possible disruptions to public services across Abuja.

Union leaders urged workers to remain calm but warned that the action would be escalated if the government fails to fully and transparently resolve the outstanding issues.l