…The NLC alleged that the FCTA unlawfully withheld five months’ wage awards and promotion arrears,
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | NLC yesterday brought Abuja to a standstill after throwing its full support behind the indefinite strike by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), signalling a total confrontation with what it described as an oppressive and unresponsive administration.
In a statement signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, the NLC accused the FCTA leadership of wage exploitation, diversion of pension funds, intimidation of workers and blatant violations of constitutional and international labour standards. The Congress described the industrial action, spearheaded by the Joint Unions Action Congress (JUAC), as a “necessary and courageous response” to persistent attacks on workers’ rights.
The NLC alleged that the FCTA unlawfully withheld five months’ wage awards and promotion arrears, describing the situation as a direct threat to workers’ livelihoods. It further claimed that pension contributions and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions had not been remitted since May 2025, calling the development an act of “economic sabotage” against both active and retired employees.
According to the Congress, failure to remit pension contributions condemns workers to hardship in retirement, a situation it described as “capital accumulation by dispossession.”
The NLC also accused the FCTA of deploying “authoritarian tactics” to stifle dissent, including restricting phone use at workplaces, intimidating staff and detaining union activists.
In response, the Congress directed an immediate escalation of the strike across the Federal Capital Territory, ordering all affiliated unions to fully align with the ongoing action. It declared the dispute a collective struggle for all workers in the FCT.
The NLC further instructed workers to mobilise in large numbers to the National Industrial Court on Monday, January 26, 2026, when issues relating to the dispute are scheduled for hearing, urging them to demonstrate unity through a strong and dignified presence.
In a rare directive, the Congress also announced compulsory daily prayer and solidarity gatherings for workers across the FCT from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., describing them as moral and spiritual efforts to sustain the movement.
Additionally, trade unions were mandated to collaborate with civil society organisations, student bodies and community groups, with the NLC warning that the dispute had evolved beyond labour matters into a broader social struggle.
Stressing that workers’ patience had been exhausted, the NLC vowed to intensify the action if its demands were not swiftly addressed.
As of the time of filing this report, operations in several FCTA offices and public services in Abuja remained paralysed, heightening tension in the capital and raising concerns over the economic and administrative impact of the growing labour crisis.
