The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has escalated its stand-off with the Federal Capital Territory Administration, calling on workers to stage a mass demonstration at the National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Monday.
The move follows legal action filed by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, against striking workers, who have been protesting alleged wage arrears and withheld benefits. NLC President Joe Ajaero said the national leadership has now formally taken over the dispute, framing it as a wider struggle for workers’ rights.
“The FCTA’s actions amount to bureaucratic oppression and exploitation,” Ajaero said after an emergency meeting with leaders of the Joint Unions Action Council (JUAC). “This is no longer just a labour dispute; it is a people’s struggle against an insensitive administration.”
He directed all FCT workers to converge at the Industrial Court on Monday to demonstrate solidarity. In addition, the NLC has introduced compulsory daily prayer and solidarity sessions across the territory, running from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and encouraged alliances with civil society groups, student organizations, and community activists to broaden support.
The Congress also highlighted the grievances driving the strike: alleged illegal withholding of five months’ wages and promotion arrears, non-remittance of pension and National Housing Fund contributions since May 2025, and intimidation of workers.
Ajaero warned that workers’ patience had run out, insisting that the NLC would sustain and intensify the action until the issues are addressed and the dignity of workers restored.
With tensions mounting, the showdown at the Industrial Court could become a pivotal moment for labour-government relations in the nation’s capital, signalling both the determination of the workers and the challenges facing the FCTA in resolving the dispute.
NLC Mobilises Abuja Workers for Mass Court Rally as FCTA Crisis Deepens
