Offices of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) were shut on Monday as workers commenced an indefinite strike.
The Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) said the decision followed the authorities’ “failure to address long-standing labour and welfare demands”.
According to the union, the industrial action will halt operations across all secretariats, departments, agencies, area councils and parastatals under the FCTA, effectively grounding government activity within the territory.
Speaking while supervising the shutdown, Musa Istifanus, vice-president of JUAC (FCTA, FCDA and SDS), said the union’s action was prompted by the administration’s neglect of staff concerns.
“You can see that we are shutting down the gates of FCTA, FCDA and all our agencies. The minister has refused to meet with the union, despite numerous attempts to engage with him on issues affecting staff,” he said.
Istifanus listed several grievances, including a botched promotion exercise, non-payment of wage awards, and failure to remit pension contributions.
“The promotion was conducted last November, December. And it was a mass failure. 75 percent failed that exam. Do you call it an exam?” he asked.
He also accused the FCT service commission chairman of being unresponsive and disrespectful to staff.
“That man has been a problem to FCT since he came. He doesn’t listen to staff, he talks to staff anyhow. All we are saying is that that man should be removed immediately,” he said.
According to him, the strike will continue until their demands are met.
“If the minister is meeting with us today and our issues are resolved, definitely we’ll call it off today. But for now, we cannot tell you how the strike is going. It’s indefinite. By the grace of God,” he said.
JUAC said the strike followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCTA, which it claimed was ignored despite several meetings.
The ultimatum, dated January 8 and signed by JUAC president Rifkatu Iortyer and secretary Abdullahi Saleh, took effect on January 7.
The union is demanding payment of outstanding promotion arrears, resolution of stalled promotions, and an end to the continued extension of service for retired directors and permanent secretaries.
They also alleged failure by the administration to remit workers’ pension contributions and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions.