Labour unions protest unpaid entitlements, stalled promotions, and poor welfare, crippling public services in the FCTA
Activities across the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) were grounded on Monday as workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) embarked on an indefinite strike over unresolved labour and welfare issues. The action led to the closure of several government offices, departments, and agencies across Abuja, disrupting official activities in the nation’s capital.
The strike, organised under the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC), followed what labour leaders described as prolonged neglect of workers’ demands by the FCTA management. Union officials said repeated engagements failed to yield results, leaving workers with no option but to down tools.
Early in the day, striking workers reportedly sealed off key government offices, barring staff and members of the public from gaining access. Area council secretariats, parastatals, and other FCT offices were either locked or deserted, significantly affecting service delivery.
Among the workers’ grievances are unpaid wage awards, promotion arrears, delayed promotions, and the alleged non-remittance of pension contributions and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions. The unions also raised concerns over what they described as irregularities in recent promotion exercises and the continued retention of some senior officials beyond their retirement age.
The industrial action has begun to impact residents who depend on government offices for essential services, while security personnel were deployed to strategic locations to maintain order.
As of the time of filing this report, the FCTA authorities had yet to issue an official response to the strike. Union leaders insist the action will continue until their demands are fully addressed, raising fears of prolonged disruption to administrative activities across Abuja.
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