Work resumes at FCTA secretariat after court orders suspension of strike

Activities have begun to pick up at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) secretariat and its affiliated Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as workers returned to their duty posts on Wednesday following the suspension of the ongoing strike action.

The resumption comes after the National Industrial Court of Nigeria issued an order on Tuesday directing workers to halt the industrial action to allow for continued dialogue between labour representatives and the authorities.

The court, presided over by Justice E. D. Subilim, ruled that the strike embarked upon by workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) should be suspended immediately to create room for negotiations and a possible resolution of the dispute.

Following the ruling, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, urged workers to immediately resume duty, stressing that while the right to protest is recognised in a democracy, court orders must also be respected.

To this end, the Acting Head of the Civil Service of the FCT, Mrs. Nancy Sabanti, issued a circular directing all Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) to open and strictly maintain staff attendance registers to ensure compliance with the court order.

The circular, dated January 27, 2026, instructed Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments, Parastatals and Agencies to enforce immediate resumption of duties by workers, while reaffirming the administration’s commitment to staff welfare.

A visit to the FCTA offices and its affiliate MDAs on Wednesday showed a reasonable compliance by the workers as they were seen within the premises and their officers carrying out their normal official duties.