Police beg Labour to shelve strike in Abuja

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has appealed to the FCT Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress to shelve its planned strike slated for Tuesday.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed on Monday in Abuja, that the appeal followed intelligence reports of possible infiltration and hijacking of the peaceful protest by members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria and other non-state actors.

“In the overriding interest of public safety, the Police Command in the FCT respectfully appeals to the organisers of the protest to consider rescheduling the activity to a later date and time.

“This measure is aimed at forestalling any breakdown of law and order.

“It is also to ensure that the rights of other residents to safety, freedom of movement, and the conduct of lawful daily activities are not infringed upon,” she said.

Adeh said the appeal was in recognition of the constitutional rights of citizens to peaceful assembly and protest.

She pledged the commitment of the command to providing adequate security for all lawful activities.

Adeh said the command would not relent in its efforts to the protection of lives and property.

She enjoined residents to continue to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in their collective effort to maintain peace and security.

Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress embarked on a total and indefinite strike in January 2026, creating a major confrontation with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over unresolved labour disputes.

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The workers have raised several key demands including unpaid promotion arrears spanning several months, poor working conditions and lack of adequate work tools, welfare issues across FCTA departments and delayed promotions affecting career progression.

Last week, workers staged protests at the National Industrial Court, carrying placards demanding payment of outstanding entitlements and calling for improved welfare. Some protesters even demanded the removal of Minister Wike, accusing his administration of failing to address their grievances.

But the Minister fired back, arguing that the administration substantially met workers’ legitimate demands before seeking legal intervention.

“I believe the administration has reasonably met the demands of the workers. However, we must be honest and admit that some of the demands are frivolous and go beyond what workers are legitimately entitled to”, Wike said a t a press conference.

Wike’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, emphasized that the government is not owing workers and that payment processes are underway. He accused politicians of attempting to hijack the strike for purposes unrelated to workers’ welfare. He stated:

“When it became clear that politicians were about to hijack the strike, we had no choice but to seek legal intervention.”

He dismissed social media claims that he was chased from his office during protests as “deliberate falsehoods driven by political interests.”

Court Intervention

On January 27, 2026, Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court granted an interlocutory injunction in favor of the FCT government, ordering workers to suspend their strike pending the hearing and determination of the case.

The court ruled that industrial action must be suspended once a dispute has been referred to the National Industrial Court.

Following the court ruling, Minister Wike issued stern warnings:

“From tomorrow, any worker who refuses to resume work will face disciplinary action. Anyone who blocks government facilities will face the full weight of the law.”

The Head of Service subsequently directed all FCTA workers to resume work immediately in compliance with the court order.

Despite the court order, labour leaders maintained that several engagements with FCTA leadership failed to yield meaningful outcomes; key welfare issues, particularly accumulated arrears, remain unresolved and that workers were left with no option but to escalate after months of complaints.

The NLC has backed the workers’ position, describing the unresolved issues as legitimate grievances that require urgent attention.

The disagreement has persisted for several months, creating tension within the FCTA workforce and raising concerns about the impact on public service delivery in Nigeria’s capital. The National Industrial Court is expected to hear the substantive matter and determine the way forward for resolving this protracted dispute.