Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) began an indefinite strike last week over what they described as the authorities’ failure to address long-standing labour and welfare demands.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have urged FCTA workers to defend their rights with courage and dignity amid the ongoing dispute with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the two labour centres expressed solidarity with the workers, accusing the FCT minister of treating them shabbily. They also criticised the recent ruling of the National Industrial Court, which ordered the suspension of the strike.
According to the statement, the court ruling already places a heavy burden on the workers, and the alleged intimidation, humiliation, insults and harassment by the minister are actions organised labour said it would not ignore.
The unions insisted that the strike would continue until the minister engages in meaningful negotiations with the workers.
“Today, we find it necessary to issue a joint statement in solidarity with the workers of the Federal Capital Territory who have been shabbily treated by the Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, and rubber-stamped by the Abuja National Industrial Court in a one-sided ruling aimed at breaking the strike and reducing workers to perpetual servitude,” the statement said.
The labour centres added that despite the court’s ruling, they expected the minister to use the opportunity to reach an amicable resolution with organised labour, rather than resorting to threats.
“The offences committed against FCT workers are serious enough. Adding intimidation, humiliation, insults and harassment is something we cannot watch from the sidelines,” the statement read.
“Workers cannot be made slaves in their own country. We stand for the rule of law and its observance, regardless of the status of the parties involved.”
The NLC and TUC further clarified that the court’s interlocutory injunction was granted against two individual union leaders and not against the striking unions themselves, stressing that the strike therefore remains in effect.
The industrial action has resulted in the shutdown of activities across major government offices in Abuja.
Following the strike, the FCT minister filed a suit against the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC). On Tuesday, the National Industrial Court ordered the workers to suspend the strike.
Delivering the ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Subilim, held that although the matter constituted a trade dispute, the right to embark on industrial action was not absolute. He ruled that once a dispute has been referred to the National Industrial Court, any ongoing strike must cease pending the determination of the case.
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