By BANNERNEWS Reporter
Labour Leaders and FCTA workers have slammed the Minister of Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nyesom Wike, describing him as a dictator, oppressor and capitalist.
Last Monday 19 January 2026, the FCTA embarked on an indefinite industrial Action over alleged unpaid wages awards, promotion arrears, non-remittance of pension and NHF deductions since mid-2025. They had also accused him of intimidation, restriction of workers communication and detention of union activists.
In an immediate reaction, the Minister slammed legal actions against the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, FCTA, workers by dragging them to the National Industrial Court, Abuja for embarking on striking.
And in response, the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has mobilised all workers in Abuja to storm the high Court on Monday, 26 January 2026, and to embark on three days 6am to 6pm fasting against the Minister.
Speaking to journalists at Labour House, Abuja after the meeting, Comrade Joe Ajaero, NLC national president, described the government actions against the workers as “capitalist exploitation and bureaucratic oppression”.
The NLC therefore directed for a total escalation of the Industrial action by all categories of civil servants.
“All affiliate unions within the Federal Capital Territory are hereby directed to fully align with and intensify the ongoing industrial action.
“This struggle is now the struggle of every worker in the FCT. All workers to mobilize to the Court on Monday, the 26th of January, 2026.
“In pursuit of justice and to demonstrate our collective resolve, all workers in the Federal Capital Territory are directed to converge en-masse at the National Industrial Court on Monday, the 26th of January 2026, where matters pertaining to this struggle will be heard.
“Let the court premises be filled with the dignified presence of the working class, sending an unmistakable message of our unity and determination.
“All workers to begin Days of compulsory Prayer sessions from 8:0OAM to 5:00PM. Workers are therefore directed to commence daily Prayer and Solidarity Sessions at designated venues across the FCT.
“These sessions will serve as a continuous spiritual and moral assembly to fortify our resolve and spotlight our righteous cause until all demands are met.
“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.”
Ajaero added that unless these issues are quickly resolved, the Congress would 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! A people united, can never be defeated! Workers united, can never be defeatedl!
“The Nigeria Labour Congress stands in very strong solidarity with the workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the aegis of the Joint Unions Action Congress (JUAC).
“Their ongoing total and indefinite strike action is not merely justified; it is a necessary and heroic response to a vicious cocktail of neoliberal attacks, gross administrative impunity, and a systematic violation of the fundamental rights of workers by the FCTA management and its political leadership.
“After the petition and consequent consultation with the leaders of JUAC, in which the unfortunate deliberate and calculated assault on the working class within the nation’s capital was laid bare, the need for concerted action became obvious.
“The litany of sins committed by the FCTA regime is a textbook case of capitalist exploitation and bureaucratic oppression: The case of Wage abuse was well established.
“The illegal withholding of five months’ Wage Award and promotion arrears is 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.
“The non-remittance of pension contributions since May 2025 and National Housing Fund deductions is an act of economic sabotage against both active and retired workers, condemning them to a destitute old age.
“This is capital accumulation by dispossession, plain and simple. It is unacceptable.
“The intimidation of staff, including bans on phone usage and incarceration of workers, is fascistic tactic designed to cripple workers’ solidarity and silence dissent, in utter contempt of constitutional rights and international labour conventions.
