WORKERS of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) have embarked on strike.
The workers blamed the action on alleged government’s failure to meet their demands.
Reports indicate that the FCTA Secretariat was locked down, with heavy security deployed at the entrance at about 9:00 a.m. on Monday.
Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force were positioned at the gate, while workers were turned back and denied access to the premises.
The action followed a directive issued earlier by the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) President, Rifkatu Iortyer, and Secretary, Abdullahi Saleh, dated January 8, ordering workers across all cadres to withdraw their services from Monday, January 19, in protest against what they called the government’s continued neglect of their demands.
The union said an earlier ultimatum issued on January 7 had elapsed without meaningful engagement from the authorities.
According to the JUAC, key grievances include the non-payment of outstanding promotion arrears, delays in the conduct and release of promotion exercises, and what they described as the continued extension of service for retired directors and permanent secretaries, a practice they said was blocking career progression for serving officers.
The workers also accused the administration of failing to remit statutory deductions, including pension contributions and National Housing Fund payments, warning that the situation could jeopardise the future welfare of affected staff.
JUAC further expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the 2024 promotion examinations, describing the exercise as largely unsuccessful and alleging that a significant number of its members were adversely affected.
It condemned the handling of the 2024 promotion examinations, describing the exercise as deeply flawed and largely unsuccessful.
The strike comes at a time when the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is widely perceived to be preoccupied with a protracted political turbulence in Rivers State, rather than focusing fully on the administration of the nation’s capital.
Wike’s ongoing conflict with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, rooted in bitter struggles for political control and influence in Rivers State, has dominated headlines and drawn national attention.
Efforts by stakeholders, including President Bola Tinubu, to resolve the standoff have failed.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.