The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has backed workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), under the aegis of the Joint Unions Action Congress (JUAC), saying their ongoing total and indefinite strike action was not merely justified, but a “necessary and heroic response to a vicious cocktail of neo-liberal attacks, gross administrative impunity, and a systematic violation of the fundamental rights of workers by the FCTA management and its political leadership.”

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in a statement, declared and directed a total escalation of the industrial action, urging all affiliate unions within the FCT to fully align with and intensify the ongoing industrial action.

The congress ordered all FCT workers to mobilise to the National Industrial Court today, in pursuit of justice and to demonstrate its collective resolve.

The NLC also directed workers to begin days of compulsory prayer sessions from 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m., saying the sessions would serve as a continuous spiritual and moral assembly to fortify its resolve and spotlight its righteous cause until all demands are met.

It alleged cases of wage abuse, illegal withholding of five months’ wage award and promotion arrears, stating that it was not an administrative lapse, but a brazen denial of workers’ legitimate earnings, a direct attack on their livelihoods and a violation of the constitutional guarantee of remuneration.

Ajaero decried the alleged non-remittance of pension contributions since May 2025 and National Housing Fund deductions, describing it as an act of economic sabotage against both active and retired workers.

His words: “We mandate all trade unions in the FCT working with the NLC FCT council to immediately forge a formidable alliance with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), student groups, community activists, and the broader masses. This is no longer just a labour dispute; it is a people’s struggle against an insensitive administration.

Together, we shall make this action total, compelling, and impossible to ignore.

“The NLC warns the FCTA management and the political leadership that the patience of the working class is exhausted.

“Their ultimatum was and is our ultimatum. Their demands are our demands. Unless these issues are quickly resolved, we will strengthen this struggle to ensure that abuse of workers’ rights is mitigated and their dignity restored.

“To the workers of the FCTA, NLC says: Your struggle is our struggle. Your victory will be a victory for every exploited worker in Nigeria. Stand firm! No retreat, no surrender!”