The Federal Capital Territory Administration workers’ strike continues despite a court order to suspend the industrial action. The strike, which began on January 19, was called by the Joint Union Action Committee over unresolved welfare concerns, including unpaid wage awards, promotion arrears, and hazard allowances.
The workers are demanding the payment of five-month wage awards, outstanding 2023 and 2024 promotion arrears, and full payment of 13 months’ hazard allowance and 22 months’ rural allowance for health workers. Other demands include remittance of pension and National Housing Fund deductions, stoppage of intimidation of workers, and improved staff welfare and working conditions.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees joined the strike in solidarity with their counterparts at the FCTA and the FCDA. The National Industrial Court in Abuja ordered the FCTA workers to suspend the strike pending further hearing in a suit brought by the FCT authorities. However, the workers have refused to resume work, citing that the court order only mandated the union leaders to resume and not the entire workforce.
A check on healthcare facilities and schools across the Bwari Area Council showed that most were still closed, with students being sent home as early as 8 am. An official at the Ushafa LEA Primary school stated that there was no memo indicating that the strike had been called off. The FCT Minister’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, claimed that those who declared the strike had resumed work, but acknowledged that other workers may not have been properly informed about the suspension of the strike.
The strike has significant implications for the delivery of public services in the Federal Capital Territory, particularly in the education and healthcare sectors. The FCT Administration and the striking unions are expected to return to the negotiating table to resolve the outstanding issues and find a way to end the strike. The strike’s continuation highlights the need for urgent attention to the welfare concerns of public sector workers in Nigeria.
