The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has raised questions about the Nigeria Labour Congress’ justification for proceeding with a planned nationwide protest in Abuja, pointing to recent salary payments and the continued presence of FCT workers at their posts despite union mobilisation efforts.
Lere Olayinka, the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, disclosed via his X handle on Sunday that workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration received their January salaries alongside one month’s payment from the five-month arrears of the Wage Award last Friday.
“Two months out of the five months arrears of Wage Award paid already, remaining three months to be paid with February, March and April salary,” Olayinka stated, outlining a phased payment plan that appears designed to address outstanding obligations to FCTA employees.
The development unfolds against the backdrop of a protracted industrial dispute that saw FCTA workers under the Joint Union Action Committee embark on an indefinite strike beginning January 19, 2026, over what they described as unresolved welfare concerns. The strike, which disrupted administrative operations within the nation’s capital, prompted legal intervention by the FCT minister.
The National Industrial Court, responding to a motion filed by Wike, issued an order compelling the workers to suspend their industrial action. The case has since been adjourned for further hearing on March 25, 2026, leaving the underlying grievances partially unresolved even as payments commenced.
JUAC leaders Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Saleh, however, have contested the court’s directive, filing an appeal and seeking a stay of execution of the lower court’s order. Their legal challenge, signed by senior lawyers including human rights advocate Femi Falana, SAN, argued that enforcing the National Industrial Court’s decision could prejudice the substantive appeal and undermine the workers’ right to fair hearing.
Yet, despite the ongoing legal wrangling and union leadership’s appeal, Olayinka noted that FCTA workers have remained committed to their responsibilities, contradicting claims of intimidation levelled against the minister.
“The FCTA workers on whose behalf NLC is organising a protest were at work last week Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. They will be at work tomorrow,” Olayinka said, suggesting a disconnect between union leadership’s mobilisation strategy and the actual disposition of FCT workers.
The minister’s aide expressed particular concern over what he characterised as selective activism by the NLC, questioning why the labour body is mobilising workers from other sectors—who should ordinarily be at their duty posts—for a Tuesday protest focused on FCT issues.
His statement drew attention to what he described as a broader pattern of wage arrears across Nigeria, noting that over 20 states have either discontinued payment of the Wage Award or failed to implement it altogether, yet the NLC has not mounted similar protest actions in those jurisdictions.
“Also, more than 20 states have stopped paying the Wage Award or have not implemented it at all. NLC has not done anything. It is the FCT that is paying and has paid two months out of the five months of arrears, that is the problem of NLC,” Olayinka stated, suggesting the protest may be driven by motives beyond purely labour concerns.
The Wage Award, introduced by the federal government as a temporary measure to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal and economic hardship, was intended to provide relief to workers pending the implementation of a new national minimum wage. Its payment has been inconsistent across states and federal agencies, reflecting varying fiscal capacities and political will.
The NLC’s planned protest comes at a time of heightened tension between organised labour and government authorities over issues ranging from wage implementation to workers’ rights and the cost of living. Labour unions in Nigeria have historically wielded significant influence through mass mobilisation, often compelling government concessions through strikes and street protests.
However, the FCT minister’s camp appears to be framing the current mobilisation as disproportionate, given the documented payments and the fact that the affected workers themselves have returned to their posts. This framing raises questions about the broader political dimensions of the dispute, particularly in a context where Wike has faced criticism from various quarters over his management style and approach to FCT administration.
