Abuja was largely paralysed on Thursday as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) openly aligned with the indefinite strike embarked upon by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), escalating the standoff with the FCT authorities.
In a statement issued by its President, Joe Ajaero, the NLC accused the FCTA leadership of persistent anti-labour practices, including wage exploitation, diversion of pension funds, intimidation of staff, and violations of both constitutional and international labour laws. The Congress described the strike, led by the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), as a justified response to what it termed sustained attacks on workers’ rights.
The NLC alleged that the FCTA had unlawfully withheld five months of wage awards and promotion arrears, describing the action as a direct threat to workers’ livelihoods. It also claimed that pension contributions and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions had not been remitted since May 2025, an act it characterised as economic sabotage against serving and retired employees.
According to the Congress, the failure to remit pensions condemns workers to hardship in retirement, adding that the situation amounted to deliberate deprivation of workers’ entitlements.
The labour body further accused the FCTA of employing authoritarian measures to silence dissent, including workplace intimidation, restrictions on phone usage, and the detention of union leaders. In response, the NLC ordered an immediate expansion of the strike across the FCT, directing all affiliated unions to fully participate.
Declaring the dispute a collective struggle, the NLC called on workers to mobilise in large numbers to the National Industrial Court on Monday, January 26, 2026, when the matter is scheduled for hearing. It urged workers to demonstrate unity through a peaceful presence at the court.
In addition, the Congress announced daily prayer and solidarity gatherings for workers across the FCT, to be held between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., describing them as moral and spiritual support for the ongoing action.
The NLC also instructed unions to collaborate with civil society groups, students, and community organisations, warning that the crisis had evolved beyond labour demands into a wider social struggle.
As of the time of reporting, operations in several FCTA offices and public services across Abuja remained shut, deepening concerns over the economic and administrative consequences of the escalating labour dispute.
