Stalemate in Abuja as FCTA, JUAC clash over “misleading” claims as strike paralyzes Secretariat, others

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and its workers under the umbrella of Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) are locked in a high-stakes standoff following the commencement of an indefinite strike on Monday, January 19, 2026, which has brought administrative activities at the FCTA and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to a grinding halt.
Early Monday morning, the main gates of the FCTA/FCDA Secretariat were placed under lock and key. A “Code Remain at Home” directive, issued by JUAC leadership late Sunday, successfully prevented staff and visitors from accessing the complex, with a specialized task force deployed to ensure total compliance.
The Government’s Position: “Demands Met”
In a swift response to the industrial action, the FCTA claimed that the strike is “unnecessary and ill-motivated.” Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, issued a statement yesterday asserting that 10 out of the 14 worker demands have already been addressed.
According to Olayinka, the Minister has approved and processed several key payments, including:
Hazard and Rural Allowances: Full payment of 13 months of Hazard Allowance and 22 months of Rural Allowance for health workers.
On promotion Arrears: the Minister’s aide disclosed the approval of over N286 million in December 2025 to cover 2023 promotion arrears for 724 officers.
Similarly, he revealed the commencement of payments for five months of outstanding Wage Awards.
Olayinka further noted that unions such as the Law Officers Association of Nigeria have dissociated themselves from the strike. He also highlighted a letter from the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) praising Minister Wike’s “exemplary leadership” regarding healthcare welfare.
The Union’s Rebuttal: “Propaganda and Falsehoods”
JUAC has hit back with a stinging “Official Disclaimer,” categorically rejecting the FCTA’s claims. In a statement signed by JUAC Secretary, Comrade Abdullahi Umar Saleh, the union described the government’s press release as “misleading” and “premature.”
“No formal agreement has been reached between JUAC and the FCTA management,” Saleh stated.
Interestingly, the union contends that core issues—including flawed promotion examinations (with a reported failure rate of 77.5%), illegal tenure elongation of retired directors, and unremitted pension contributions—remain largely unattended to.
JUAC further criticized the administration for trying to shift the blame for unremitted National Housing Fund (NHF) and pension deductions onto the workers themselves, calling the move “contrary to established public service financial regulations.”
Security and future dialogue While the FCTA has called on security agencies to protect workers who wish to resume their duties, JUAC has urged its members to remain resolute in the face of what they termed “divide-and-rule tactics.”
As of yesterday, the gates remained shut. While the FCTA maintains that dialogue remains open, JUAC insists it will not suspend the industrial action until the implementation of their demands is verified and conclusive, rather than just promised on paper.