FCT workers defy court order as strike disrupts schools, health facilities

Industrial action by workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has continued despite a court order directing striking unions to suspend the strike and return to work, leading to ongoing disruption of public services across parts of Abuja.

The strike, embarked upon by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), began on January 19 over unresolved welfare and entitlement issues.

The unions said the action was aimed at drawing urgent attention to challenges affecting workers’ morale, productivity and general welfare.

The industrial action gained momentum on Monday when the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) joined the strike in solidarity with FCTA and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) workers.

Among the key demands of the striking workers are 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 for health workers.

Other grievances include the remittance of pension and National Housing Fund deductions, an end to alleged intimidation of workers, and improved welfare and working conditions.

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In response to the strike, the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the unions to suspend the industrial action 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 Registrar, show that Mr Wike and the FCTA are listed as claimants in the suit, while union leaders Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh are named as defendants.

The application before the court sought “an order of injunction to restrain the defendants in the manner sought on the face of the motion paper.”

However, checks on Wednesday revealed that many FCT workers were yet to resume duties despite the court order. Several public healthcare facilities and schools across the Bwari Area Council remained shut.

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. due to the continued closure of the schools.

An official of Ushafa LEA Primary School, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there was no official communication indicating that the strike had been suspended. He argued that the court order was directed at union leaders and not the general workforce.

“The order was only for Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh, and I believe they have resumed,” the official said.

Reacting to the situation, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, said those who declared the strike had already returned to work. He suggested that workers who were yet to resume might not have been properly informed.

“The strike was not declared by the NUT. Those who declared the strike have resumed. They were in their offices today,” Olayinka said. “If other people have not resumed, maybe they have not gotten the correct information. I’m sure that by tomorrow they should be at work.”

As of Wednesday evening, uncertainty remained over full compliance with the court order, as negotiations between the unions and the FCT authorities continued amid ongoing service disruptions.