The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned that any FCTA worker who fails to resume duties from Wednesday, January 28, will face disciplinary measures.
Wike made the statement on Tuesday while addressing journalists in Abuja, shortly after the National Industrial Court ordered the suspension of the ongoing strike by FCTA workers.
“Starting tomorrow, anyone who does not report to work will face consequences. If anyone tries to block access to offices, the law will hold you accountable,” he said.
The minister added that the FCTA management has engaged with union leaders and addressed the majority of their grievances. He noted that security agencies and the administration had made repeated attempts at dialogue, but these efforts yielded limited results, suggesting that the dispute extends beyond the workers’ stated demands.
“If the workers raised 14 demands and we have already resolved 10 of them, what then remains the issue?” Wike questioned.
The indefinite strike, which began last week, was declared by FCTA staff over unresolved labour and welfare issues, leading to the temporary shutdown of key government offices across Abuja.
In response, Wike filed a suit against the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) to compel the workers to return to work. On Tuesday, the National Industrial Court in Abuja ruled that the strike must be suspended.
Presiding Judge Emmanuel Subilim stated that while the dispute qualifies as a trade disagreement, the right to embark on industrial action is not unlimited. Once a case is referred to the National Industrial Court, any ongoing strike must be paused until the matter is fully resolved.
