Unions participating in the ongoing strike across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have continued their industrial action despite a court order directing them to return to work.
According to DAILY POST, workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), operating under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), commenced an indefinite strike on January 19 over unresolved welfare-related issues. The unions said the action was aimed at drawing urgent attention to concerns affecting workers’ morale and productivity.
The strike gained momentum on Monday as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) joined in solidarity with FCTA and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) staff.
Key demands by the workers include the payment of five months’ wage awards, outstanding promotion arrears for 2023 and 2024, full payment of 13 months’ hazard allowance, and 22 months’ rural allowance owed to health workers. They are also calling for the remittance of pension and National Housing Fund deductions, an end to alleged intimidation of workers, and improved welfare and working conditions.
On Tuesday, the National Industrial Court in Abuja ordered the striking workers to suspend the strike pending further hearing of a suit filed by the FCT authorities. The ruling was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Subilim following an application brought by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCTA.
Court documents dated January 27, 2026, and signed by the court registrar, list Wike and the FCTA as claimants, while union leaders Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh are named as defendants. The application sought an injunction restraining the unions from continuing the strike.
Strike Persists
Despite the court directive, workers across the FCT were yet to resume duties as of Wednesday. Checks by DAILY POST revealed that many schools and healthcare facilities, particularly within the Bwari Area Council, remained closed.
Students of Government Day Secondary School, Dutse Alhaji; Junior Secondary School, Ushafa; and LEA Primary School, Ushafa were reportedly sent home as early as 8 a.m.
A staff member at LEA Primary School, Ushafa, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there was no official notice indicating that the strike had been suspended. He added that the court order appeared to apply only to the union leaders and not to all workers.
“The order was only for Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh, and I believe they have resumed,” he said.
‘Those Who Declared the Strike Have Resumed’ — Wike’s Aide
Reacting to the situation, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, told DAILY POST that those who initiated the strike had already returned to work.
He said workers who were still absent might not have received accurate information about the suspension of the strike.
“The strike was not declared by the NUT. Those who declared the strike have resumed and were in their offices today. If others have not resumed, they may not have been properly informed. By tomorrow, they should be back at work,” Olayinka stated.