Workers employed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have announced plans to commence an indefinite strike on Monday, January 19, 2026, a move that would shut down government offices across Abuja and its six area councils.
The planned industrial action follows what labour unions describe as the FCTA’s failure to address longstanding welfare and employment grievances, despite the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the administration.
The directive was issued by the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC), a coalition representing workers across all cadres within the FCT public service. Union leaders said the ultimatum lapsed without a meaningful response from management, even after several meetings during the notice period.
Confirming the decision on Friday, the unions’ Public Relations Officer, Holina Adejoh, told PUNCH Online that the strike would proceed as scheduled.
“Yes, we are embarking on a strike on Monday,” she said in a telephone interview.
If carried out, the strike is expected to paralyse activities at all FCTA secretariats, departments, agencies, parastatals and area councils, effectively grounding government operations within the nation’s capital. The action affects workers from junior staff to senior civil servants across the entire FCT administrative structure.
The ultimatum, which took effect on January 7, 2026, was contained in a statement dated January 8 and jointly signed by JUAC President Rifkatu Iortyer and Secretary Abdullahi Saleh. Copies were forwarded to the Minister of State for the FCT, the Chief of Staff, the Head of Service and the Director of Security Services, according to documents sighted by PUNCH Online.
The unions listed several unresolved issues, including the non-payment of promotion arrears, delays in the conduct of promotion exercises and the continued retention of retired directors and permanent secretaries beyond their statutory retirement age.
They also accused the administration of failing to remit workers’ pension contributions and National Housing Fund deductions, raising concerns about possible breaches of the Pension Reform Act and other labour regulations.
JUAC further expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the 2024 promotion examinations, describing the exercise as a failure that reportedly affected a large number of candidates, though no specific figures were provided.
The decision to embark on industrial action marks an escalation of tensions between FCT workers and the administration, underscoring broader challenges in Nigeria’s public service relating to workers’ welfare, career progression and administrative accountability.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration, established following the relocation of Nigeria’s capital from Lagos to Abuja in 1991, employs thousands of civil servants across ministries, departments and agencies responsible for governance and development in Abuja and its six area councils—Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
Industrial actions by public sector workers in Nigeria have historically centred on issues such as unpaid salaries, promotion arrears, pension remittances and poor working conditions. Such strikes often disrupt essential government services, affecting residents who rely on public offices for documentation, regulatory approvals and other administrative functions.
The planned shutdown comes at a time when the FCTA is expected to maintain full operational capacity to serve residents of the capital and visitors conducting official business.
As of the time of filing this report, the FCTA had yet to respond to the unions’ claims. Tony Odey, media aide to the Head of the FCT Civil Service, did not respond to calls seeking official comment.
The Joint Union Action Congress comprises several labour groups within the FCT, including the Nigeria Civil Service Union and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, among others.
Under Nigerian labour law, unions are entitled to embark on industrial action after exhausting negotiation mechanisms, provided due notice and ultimatums are issued a process the unions insist they have duly followed in this case.
