From Victor Osula, Abuja
The welfare dispute between the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and its workforce escalated on Thursday as workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) resumed their indefinite strike and filed an appeal against the ruling of the National Industrial Court directing them to suspend the action.
Most offices across FCTA secretariats, departments and agencies remained largely deserted, in line with the union’s directive for workers to stay at home.
The renewed strike followed the appeal of the January 27 court ruling, which ordered workers to suspend the industrial action and adjourned the matter to March 23. The appeal was filed by the unions through their lead counsel, Femi Falana, SAN.
Earlier, the Acting Head of the Civil Service of the FCTA, Mrs Nancy Nathan, had directed workers to resume duty on Wednesday, while the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, warned that there would be consequences for any worker who failed to comply.
Wike, however, assured that the FCTA was open to reasonable negotiations, insisting that the majority of the workers’ demands had already been addressed.
But in a circular issued on Wednesday, JUAC Secretary, Abdullahi Saleh, informed workers that the strike would continue from Thursday, urging them to remain at home and pray for the success of the action, while stressing the need for unity, discipline and commitment.
He recalled that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had, in a joint communique issued on January 28, called on FCT workers to defend their rights with courage and dignity.
The labour centres further argued that the interlocutory injunction obtained by the FCT Minister and the FCTA was directed at the JUAC President, Mrs Rifkatu Iortyer, and Saleh, and not the trade unions.
In the communique signed by NLC Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, and TUC Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, the unions insisted that the strike would continue until meaningful negotiations are held between the FCTA and its workers.
