Activities at government offices across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were largely paralysed on Monday as workers began an industrial action declared by the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC).
The strike followed a notice issued by the unions last Friday, announcing their intention to shut down public offices within the FCT and its six area councils if their demands were not addressed.
According to JUAC, the action became inevitable after a seven-day ultimatum given to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) expired without any concrete response.
The ultimatum, which took effect on January 7, 2026, reportedly lapsed despite several meetings held between union representatives and the authorities during the period.
A statement dated January 8 and jointly signed by JUAC President, Comrade Rifkatu Iortyer, and Secretary, Comrade Abdullahi Saleh, confirmed the unions’ decision to withdraw services.
The notice was also copied to key government officials, including the Minister of State for the FCT, the Chief of Staff, the Head of Service, and the Director of Security Services.
JUAC explained that workers were instructed to down tools over what it described as the FCTA’s persistent neglect of labour and welfare-related concerns. Among the issues highlighted are unpaid promotion arrears, delays in staff promotions, and the continued retention of directors and permanent secretaries who are due for retirement.
The unions further accused the administration of failing to remit pension contributions and National Housing Fund deductions on behalf of workers. They also criticised the conduct of the 2024 promotion examinations, alleging that the exercise was poorly handled and negatively affected many candidates.
As of Monday, government activities across the FCT remained disrupted, with no indication yet of when normal operations would resume.