Activities at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) secretariat were brought to a halt on Monday as workers commenced an indefinite industrial action, shutting offices to press home demands on welfare and career progression.

However, the FCTA has insisted that substantial progress has been made, disclosing that 10 out of the 14 demands presented by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) have already been met, while efforts are ongoing to address the remaining four.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said the strike was unnecessary, noting that the Minister and top management of the Administration had demonstrated goodwill and commitment to resolving all outstanding issues through dialogue.

Olayinka revealed that several meetings had been held with union leaders, including engagements over the weekend, during which the workers’ demands and the interventions already made by the Minister were clearly outlined.

“At no point did the Minister express unwillingness to address any of the demands,” the statement said, adding that JUAC officials were advised to adopt dialogue, as the outstanding issues did not warrant an industrial action.

The Administration further disclosed that some unions, including the Law Officers Association of Nigeria, had formally dissociated themselves from the strike, stressing that workers who chose not to participate should be allowed unhindered access to their offices to perform their lawful duties.

In apparent contrast to the strike action, the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCTA), was quoted as having written to the FCT Minister, commending him for his “exemplary leadership and commitment to the welfare of healthcare workers,” particularly for the payment of long-standing 13 months’ hazard allowance arrears and one month wage award.

Addressing specific grievances raised by the unions, the FCTA said payment of the outstanding five months’ wage award, one of the major demands, had already commenced.

It added that the 13 months’ hazard allowance and 22 months’ rural allowance owed to health workers had been fully paid.

On the issue of promotion arrears, the Administration explained that arrears amounting to N286,166,772.46, covering 724 officers across 24 Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs), were approved by the Minister in December 2025 and were currently being processed for payment.

Concerns over the alleged elongation of tenure of retired directors and permanent secretaries were also said to have been resolved, with assurances from the Minister that the Public Service Rules would be strictly adhered to going forward.

Similarly, the complaint about lack of training and retraining of staff was addressed, as all SDAs had been directed to forward their general and specialised training needs to the Permanent Secretary, Common Services, for onward submission to the Office of the Head of Service.

In response to allegations of non-remittance of National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions and pension contributions since May 2025, the FCTA clarified that deductions and remittances were handled through workers’ structures, not directly by the Minister or management.

A committee comprising workers, it said, had been constituted by the Head of Service to holistically address all issues relating to deductions and remittances.

The Administration also faulted JUAC’s claims of mass failure in the 2024 promotion examinations, including the alleged 22.5 per cent pass rate, describing the figures as lacking official backing.

Workers were advised to await the formal release of results as directed by the Minister.

According to the statement, concerns over the overstay of overseeing directors had been largely addressed through the conduct of the 2023 promotion exercise for eligible deputy directors, while the release of the 2024 promotion results by the FCT Civil Service Commission would conclusively resolve the matter.

“In all, it is evident that the FCT Minister has made concerted efforts to address the demands of the workers and will continue to accord their welfare top priority,” the statement said, concluding that the strike was “ill-motivated and aimed at achieving purposes other than the welfare of workers.”

The FCTA also called on security agencies to ensure that workers who opted out of the strike were allowed access to their offices without intimidation.

Despite the Administration’s position, JUAC insisted that the strike would continue until all grievances were fully resolved.

Earlier on Monday, workers stayed away from their offices following a directive titled “Code Remain at Home,” issued by the union leadership, urging total compliance.

Security operatives were deployed around the secretariat to maintain order.

Speaking to journalists, JUAC President, Comrade Rifkatu Iortyer, said the strike was a last resort after repeated attempts to engage management failed to yield satisfactory outcomes.

She listed key grievances, including alleged non-remittance of pension contributions and NHF deductions, delays in promotion exercises and arrears, tenure elongation of directors, and what she described as mass failure and glitches in the recently conducted computer-based promotion examinations. Iortyer also complained about unpaid overheads, intimidation of civil servants, and what she called systemic bottlenecks affecting productivity within the FCTA.

According to her, the industrial action would remain in force “for as long as it takes,” until meaningful engagement is initiated and concrete actions taken to address workers’ concerns.

As of the time of filing this report, offices within the FCTA secretariat remained shut, with administrative activities grounded, while both sides appeared locked in a standoff over the path to resolution.