NLC-Backed FCTA Workers Storm Industrial Court, Demand Wike’s Removal

Abuja’s capital pulse was unmistakable on Monday as thousands of workers from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) — backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) — took their ongoing industrial dispute straight to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria. The protesters, many holding bold placards and chanting solidarity songs, demanded not only the fulfilment of long-standing welfare and salary demands but also the removal of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike from office. 

The demonstration marks a significant escalation in the labour standoff that has gripped the FCT in recent weeks. Workers, organised under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), embarked on an indefinite strike after their grievances — including unpaid promotion arrears, inadequate welfare support, and allegations of disrespect toward worker rights — were not satisfactorily addressed by the FCTA leadership. 

In scenes outside the National Industrial Court complex in Abuja, union members pressed their case in public view: placards reading “Wike Must Go!!”, “Pay Promotion Arrears Now”, and “Enough is Enough” captured the intensity of worker frustration. Many stressed that they believe the current leadership under Minister Wike has failed to prioritise worker welfare and respect statutory rights. 

The Strike: More Than a Pay Dispute

This protest didn’t come out of the blue. The FCTA workers have been at loggerheads with the administration for weeks amid an indefinite strike that has crippled key sectors of public service in the nation’s capital. Offices were shut down across various administrative departments as workers downed tools to press for promised wage awards and promotion arrears. 

The NLC has openly endorsed the action, calling it a legitimate response to alleged neglect, and has mobilised union affiliates to rally behind the striking FCTA workforce. This inclusiveness underscores how the dispute has grown from isolated crew grievances into a broader labour demand that touches on worker dignity and fairness in one of Nigeria’s most important administrative jurisdictions. 

Wike Goes to Court — and Workers Follow

In a twist that reflects how bitter the dispute has become, Minister Wike and the FCTA moved to the National Industrial Court themselves, seeking orders to restrain the strike and related actions such as picketing, blocking access to offices, and crippling administrative operations. The minister’s legal team successfully obtained a court order restraining the unions from continuing certain protest actions while the case is determined. 

Rather than dampening spirits, however, the legal manoeuvres appear to have galvanised labour’s resolve. Workers and the NLC argue that punitive orders will not silence legitimate demands; instead, they see the court engagement as part of a legal and public battle to uphold rights they say have been systematically sidelined. 

The Political Undercurrent

What began as a labour dispute has taken on broader political overtones. Critics of the FCT Administration — including some youth and civil society voices — have seized on the protests to call for Minister Wike’s removal, framing it as a failure of leadership and poor responsiveness to worker and public concerns. 

Supporters of Wike, however, contend that his track record in the FCT — including infrastructure investments and administrative reforms — should not be overshadowed by labour discord. Some political actors and party affiliates have publicly defended the minister’s stewardship, rejecting calls for his resignation. 

What Happens Next

The standoff now heads into a judicial phase, with the National Industrial Court set to hear arguments on the legality of the strike and the broader labour dispute. Both sides — the workers and the FCTA administration — will present their cases, setting the stage for a legal interpretation that could have implications beyond the capital. 

As Abuja watches, the outcome will not only determine whether the strike continues or is legally curtailed, but also whether tensions between organised labour and political leadership in Nigeria’s capital can be resolved through negotiation, court mediation, or harder enforcement measures.