From Victor Osula Abuja
The Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has rejected claims by management that most of the workers’ demands have been addressed, insisting that the ongoing industrial action remains in force.
Workers of the FCTA and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) shut down government offices across Abuja and the six area councils on Monday, January 19, 2026, over the authorities’ failure to resolve long-standing labor and welfare issues.
Earlier, Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, stated that the FCTA had met 10 out of the 14 demands presented by the unions, with work ongoing on the remaining four.
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, January 20, JUAC Secretary Abdullahi Umar Saleh countered this claim, asserting that no formal agreement has been reached and describing the management’s narrative as false and misleading.
The union specifically denied reports that wage awards, rural allowances, and 2023 promotion arrears had been settled. JUAC maintained that none of the core demands have been conclusively implemented or verified.
The leadership clarified that the strike has not been suspended or relaxed, as the issues listed in their original ultimatum remain largely unattended.
JUAC also dismissed comments attributed to the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD-FCTA), stating they do not reflect the collective position of the broader workforce and cannot justify claims that the dispute has been resolved.
Unresolved issues cited by the union include non-remittance of National Housing Fund (NHF) and pension deductions, alleged illegal tenure elongation for retired officials, and a flawed promotion examination process that recently recorded a mass failure.
The union further faulted attempts by the FCTA management to shift responsibility for statutory deductions to the workers themselves, calling the move a violation of established public service financial regulations.
Reaffirming the legality of the strike, JUAC urged workers to remain united until all demands are fully implemented.
While expressing a willingness to engage in genuine dialogue, the union warned that it would not succumb to intimidation or misinformation
