The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has questioned the motive behind the Nigeria Labour Congress’ planned nationwide protest, following the payment of arrears to workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
The minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, via his X handle on Sunday, said that “FCTA workers received their January salaries last Friday with one month payment of the five months’ arrears of the Wage Award.”
“Two months out of the five months arrears of Wage Award paid already, remaining three months to be paid with February, March and April salary,” Olayinka said.
The payments come amid a lingering dispute following an indefinite strike by FCTA workers under the Joint Union Action Committee, which began on January 19 over unresolved welfare concerns.
The National Industrial Court, acting on a motion by Wike, ordered the workers to suspend the strike, with the case adjourned for further hearing on March 25, 2026.
JUAC leaders Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Saleh challenged the court ruling, filing an appeal seeking a stay of execution. Their motion, signed by senior lawyers including Femi Falana, SAN, argued that enforcing the lower court’s decision could undermine the appeal.
However, the media aide expressed concern over the mobilisation of workers in other sectors for the planned protest.
He noted that despite the unions’ claims that the FCT minister is intimidating workers, FCTA staff have continued to perform their duties diligently.
“But NLC is mobilising workers in other sectors, who should be at their duty posts for a protest on Tuesday.
“The FCTA workers on whose behalf NLC is organising a protest were at work last week Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. They will be at work tomorrow,” Olayinka said, highlighting the workers’ commitment despite the arrears.
He further questioned why the NLC is mobilising other workers for protests in the FCT while ignoring similar wage issues in over 20 other states.
“Also, more than 20 states have stopped paying the Wage Award or have not implemented it at all. NLC has not done anything. It is the FCT that is paying and has paid two months out of the five months of arrears, that is the problem of NLC,” Olayinka said.
