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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
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The Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) has commended Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers for their strong show of unity at the National Industrial Court Monday, calling on them to return Tuesday for the continuation of strike .
In an announcement addressed to all FCTA workers, JUAC Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, praised the workers’ peaceful conduct and massive turnout, describing it as a clear demonstration of their collective resolve.
“The Joint Union Action Congress sincerely thanks all FCTA workers for the massive show of solidarity and commitment displayed today at the National Industrial Court,” Saleh stated in the release. “Your presence and peaceful conduct have once again demonstrated our unity and collective resolve in the pursuit of our legitimate welfare demands.”
The union emphasised that Monday’s proceedings marked only the first phase of the case, urging workers to maintain the momentum. “We encourage all workers to sustain this spirit of solidarity by coming out again tomorrow, as today’s court appearance was only the first phase, and tomorrow will be the continuation of the case at the National Industrial Court,” the announcement added.
Saleh reassured workers of the union’s commitment to justice, declaring: “Together, we will ensure that our voices are heard and justice is served. United we stand, divided we fall.”
The JUAC Secretary FCT, concluded with appreciation: “Thank you all for your cooperation and support.”
Recall National Industrial Court (NICN) had last week on Thursday, January 21, 2026, issued an Order of Interlocutory Injunction, barring the union’s leaders, agents, and members from strikes, picketing, lockouts, road blockades, or any moves to paralyze FCTA operations.
The injunction followed an indefinite strike launched Monday by workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), protesting unpaid promotion arrears and other entitlements.
Honourable Justice E. D. Subilim approved the FCT Minister and FCTA’s urgent application, halting the action despite the absence of defendants Rifkatu Iortyer (JUAC President) and Abdullahi Umar Saleh (Secretary).
Led by Dr Ogwu J. Onoja, SAN, the FCTA’s legal team contended the strike was unlawful and risked crippling administration functions. Justice Subilim agreed, ruling that the applicants deserved judicial protection.
With defendants missing, the court authorised substituted service: publishing the Originating Summons in a national daily like Leadership Newspaper and posting it at JUAC’s office in the FCTA Secretariat, Kapital Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.
The summons probes the strike’s compliance with the Trade Disputes Act and questions JUAC’s status as an unregistered trade union.
The matter was adjourned to Monday, January 26, 2026, for the Motion on Notice hearing—a clear FCTA strategy to prevent disruptions and force the union to defend its position legally.
Honourable Justice E. D. Subilim approved the FCT Minister and FCTA’s urgent application, halting the action despite the absence of defendants Rifkatu Iortyer (JUAC President) and Abdullahi Umar Saleh (Secretary).
Led by Dr Ogwu J. Onoja, SAN, the FCTA’s legal team contended the strike was unlawful and risked crippling administration functions. Justice Subilim agreed, ruling that the applicants deserved judicial protection.
With defendants missing, the court authorised substituted service: publishing the Originating Summons in a national daily like Leadership Newspaper and posting it at JUAC’s office in the FCTA Secretariat, Kapital Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.
The summons probes the strike’s compliance with the Trade Disputes Act and questions JUAC’s status as an unregistered trade union.
The matter was adjourned to Monday, January 26, 2026, for the Motion on Notice hearing—a clear FCTA strategy to prevent disruptions and force the union to defend its position legally.
The strike, which began on Monday, January 19, 2026, saw the workers locked the gates of their offices, enforcing a total strike to press for resolution of long-standing grievances, including unpaid pensions, promotion exam failures, and intimidation by management favourites.
JUAC President Rifkatu Iyote addressed journalists at the scene of the FCTA gate lockdown, emphasizing it’s a strike—not a demonstration—to spotlight unresolved grievances. “There’s no demonstration but there’s a strike,” she stated. “The reason for this strike is because we want to call the attention of the management of FCTA to certain grievances… that we’ve tried to resolve but it has not happened.”
Iyote outlined 22 demands, led by non-remittance of pension funds, unpaid National Housing Fund contributions, and tenure extensions for retired directors “stunting our growth.” She cited mass failures in a recent CBT promotion exam due to glitches like power outages and overcrowding, yielding a mere 22.5% success rate. “We have issues of mass failure in the just concluded CBT exam which has happened in FCTA for the first time,” she said.
Other issues include unpaid wage awards (only one month paid instead of five), hazard allowances, and intimidation by the minister’s favorites, including arbitrary police detentions bypassing civil service procedures. Iyote affirmed the lockdown signals unwavering resolve until demands are met.
Iyote outlined 22 demands, led by non-remittance of pension funds, unpaid National Housing Fund contributions, and tenure extensions for retired directors “stunting our growth.” She cited mass failures in a recent CBT promotion exam due to glitches like power outages and overcrowding, yielding a mere 22.5% success rate. “We have issues of mass failure in the just concluded CBT exam which has happened in FCTA for the first time,” she said.
Other issues include unpaid wage awards (only one month paid instead of five), hazard allowances, and intimidation by the minister’s favorites, including arbitrary police detentions bypassing civil service procedures. Iyote affirmed the lockdown signals unwavering resolve until demands are met.
