Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, under the Joint Union Action Committee, on Thursday resumed the indefinite strike embarked upon on January 19 over unresolved welfare issues.
A visit to the FCTA secretariats, departments and agencies showed scanty presence of workers, a sharp contrast to the level of activity recorded on Wednesday, following a directive by the union asking members to remain at home.
The resumption of the strike followed the decision of the workers to appeal the ruling of the National Industrial Court delivered on January 27, which ordered the suspension of the industrial action and adjourned the matter till March 23.
The appeal was filed by the union through its lead counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, challenging the court’s directive that workers should return to their duty posts.
Prior to the appeal, the acting Head of the Civil Service of the FCTA, Mrs Nancy Nathan, had instructed workers to resume work on Wednesday in compliance with the court order.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had also warned that sanctions would be imposed on any worker who failed to resume duty, while assuring that the administration remained open to reasonable negotiations, adding that most of the workers’ demands had been addressed.
However, the Secretary of JUAC, Abdullahi Saleh, in a circular issued on Wednesday, informed workers that the strike would continue from Thursday, following the filing of the appeal.
Saleh urged workers to stay at home and remain committed to the struggle, stressing that unity, discipline and resolve were necessary for the success of the action.
He further recalled that the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, in a joint communique issued on January 28, had encouraged FCT workers to defend their rights with courage and dignity.
The labour unions argued that the interlocutory injunction obtained by the FCT administration was directed at the President of JUAC, Mrs Rifkatu Iortyer, and Saleh, and not against the trade unions themselves.
In the communique jointly signed by the acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, and the Secretary General of the TUC, Nuhu Toro, the unions insisted that the strike should continue until the FCT administration engages the workers in meaningful negotiations.