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FCTA

FCTA Staffs Return to Office After Wike, Unions Reach Agreement

by Nelson Ugwuagbo February 3, 2026

written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Organised labour and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have resolved their dispute, clearing the way for affected workers to immediately return to work.

The development was announced in a circular issued on Tuesday to affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Abuja.

The circular was jointly signed by TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, and Acting NLC General Secretary, Benson Upah.

According to the notice, the breakthrough followed a conciliatory meeting between labour leaders and the FCT minister, convened at the instance of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Mohammed Bomoi.

The meeting, which commenced at about 11:45 p.m. on Sunday, lasted until approximately 3:51 a.m. on Monday after prolonged deliberations.

Organised labour stated that all concerns raised by members of the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) were thoroughly addressed during the discussions.

The circular further noted that the FCT minister assured labour unions of mutual respect and pledged continued engagement on workers’ welfare and related issues.

Both parties also agreed that no worker would face victimisation for participating in the strike, while all pending cases at the National Industrial Court would be withdrawn immediately.

February 3, 2026 0 comments

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Wike Moves To Jail FCTA Striking Workers Over ‘Court Order Disobedience

by Folarin Kehinde January 30, 2026

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has applied for a National Industrial Court order to commit the striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to prison over their alleged disobedience of the court order.

Wike’s alleged disobedience by the workers arose from resumption of their strike despite an order of the court issued on January 27, stopping the strike until the determination of the suit instituted against them by the FCT Minister.

The FCT Minister has obtained Form 48, a legal document of the court, which spells out the consequences of violating the order of court, to be served on the striking workers.

Form 48 was obtained by his Counsel and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ogwu Onoja, on behalf of Wike, to compel the workers to obey the court order or be committed to jail as stipulated by law.

The form 48 is titled “Notice of Consequence of disobedience of order of Court” and would be followed with contempt charges.

It reads, “Take note that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of Honourable Justice E. D Sublimi of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria delivered 27th day of January 2026, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison “.

The notice of ‘Consequence of Disobedience of Order of Court’ dated January 29 was signed by the Registrar of the Industrial Court, Olajide Balogun.

Justice Emmanuel Sublimi of the National Industrial Court had on January 27 ordered workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to suspend their industrial action pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons issued against them by the FCT Minister.

The order of the Judge followed an application by the FCT Minister through Ogwu James Onoja (SAN) in which he sought an order of court compelling the striking FCTA workers to return to work.

In the suit, the FCT Minister had listed the President and the Secretary of the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC), Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh, as respondents.

Justice Subilim had held that industrial action, including strikes, must be suspended once a dispute has been referred to the National Industrial Court.

January 30, 2026 0 comments

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NLC Directs FCT Workers to Continue Strike, Slams Wike’s Threats

by Folarin Kehinde January 28, 2026

written by Folarin Kehinde

The leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has instructed all Abuja-based affiliate unions to strengthen, intensify, and sustain the ongoing industrial action by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) until their demands are fully met.

The directive, contained in a circular addressed to the Presidents and General Secretaries of all Abuja-based unions, comes in response to the continued neglect of workers’ welfare and persistent intimidation of staff by authorities.

The circular stated, “Following our earlier communications regarding the ongoing struggle of FCTA workers, we hereby reaffirm and reinforce the directive to all affiliate unions in the FCT to not only continue the ongoing action but to intensify and sustain it until all workers’ demands are fully addressed.”

The NLC highlighted unpaid wage awards and promotion arrears, non-remittance of pension and National Housing Fund deductions, and ongoing intimidation of workers as the primary unresolved issues driving the strike.

The Congress described the situation as unacceptable, noting that these violations “remain unresolved” and are “grave, unacceptable, and incompatible with the principles of fairness, justice, and decent work.”

Affiliate unions were further instructed to “maintain full participation in the industrial action,” “strengthen mobilisation of members for all Congress-approved activities,” and “mobilise members to participate daily in Prayer and Solidarity Sessions from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at designated venues across the FCT.”

Emphasising the gravity of the struggle, the NLC warned that “this struggle demands unity, discipline, and unwavering commitment,” adding that “any retreat at this stage will only encourage further violations against workers.”

“All affiliates are expected to comply strictly with this directive in the collective interest of the Nigerian working class,” the circular concluded, ending with a message of solidarity: “An injury to one is an injury to all. Solidarity forever.”

The circular was signed by Comrade Benson Upah, Acting General Secretary, and Joseph Ajaero, President.

Meanwhile, unions within the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) have rejected claims that a National Industrial Court ruling has effectively halted the strike.

In a joint communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of executive officers of 16 unions in FCTA/FCDA on January 27, 2026, the unions responded to a court ruling at Gimbia Street, Area 11, Abuja, which reportedly instructed Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar to suspend the industrial action.

The unions clarified, “After reviewing all issues raised, the need for continued and coordinated action became clear. The ruling from the Industrial Court applies only to the individuals named—Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar.”

They affirmed that “the strike action declared by the various unions remains in effect until the FCTA authorities and the Honourable Minister of the FCT meet workers’ demands.

Workers were urged to remain steadfast: “We call on the resilient FCTA/FCDA workforce to stay committed until further directives from the union.”

The communiqué concluded with solidarity slogans: “A people united can never be defeated. Workers united can never be defeated. Solidarity forever. Aluta Continua. Victoria Ascerta.”

January 28, 2026 0 comments

Headlines

FCTA Workers, NLC Storm Industrial Court, Demand Wike Sack

by Nelson Ugwuagbo January 26, 2026

written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Monday besieged the National Industrial Court in Abuja in continuation of an ongoing total and indefinite strike over unresolved labour disputes.

The protest followed a directive by the NLC endorsing the industrial action, which it described as justified in the face of what it called persistent violations of workers’ rights by the FCTA management and political leadership.

The demonstrators, who carried placards with inscriptions such as “Wike must go”, “Abuja no be Rivers”, “Pay promotion arrears”, “Enough is Enough” and “No working tools”, accused the authorities of failing to address longstanding grievances, including unpaid promotion arrears and poor working conditions.

January 26, 2026 0 comments

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JUST IN: Wike Bans Use of Phone for FCT Land Officials

by Folarin Kehinde November 12, 2025

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has issued a strict ban on the use of mobile phones by staff of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) and the Department of Land Administration.

The new directive affects officers on Grade Level 14 and below, stopping them from entering their offices with mobile phones starting Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the order came shortly after videos showing Wike’s heated altercation with a Naval officer at a disputed property site in Abuja went viral on social media.

According to an internal memo signed by the Head of AGIS, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, “There shall be a ban on the use of mobile phones within the office premises for all officers on Salary Grade Level (SGL) 14 and below… affected staff are not permitted to enter the premises with their mobile phones henceforth.”

Sources within AGIS disclosed that the decision followed the minister’s anger over the viral footage, which was reportedly shared across WhatsApp groups by some staff members “The minister was furious that the videos spread among workers. He felt betrayed and saw it as sabotage,” a source said.

The ban has sparked outrage among staff and civil rights advocates, who describe it as “authoritarian and outdated.” Many have accused the minister of clamping down on transparency in public service.

One labour activist told reporters that the move “shows intolerance and fear of exposure. In this digital age, banning phones is backward and unnecessary.”

As of the time of filing this report, the FCT Administration had not issued any public statement explaining the decision or responding to the backlash.

November 12, 2025 0 comments

Headlines

BREAKING: ‘Hoodlums took everything’ – FCTA confirms looting of its warehouse

by Folarin Kehinde March 4, 2024

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Agricultural and Rural Development (ARD) Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has confirmed the looting of its Dei-Dei warehouse by suspected hoodlums.

Leading reporters learnt that hoodlums broke into a government-owned warehouse and looted dozens of foodstuff and other items over the economic hardship in the country.

Spokesperson of the ARD Secretariat, Zakari Aliyu, said the Secretary, earlier visited the warehouse, adding that the attackers looted everything in the store and vandalised the place, removing the roofs and windows.

He added that the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, and the FCT Mandate Secretary, Agric Secretariat, Lawan Geidam, will also visit the facility on Monday.

“We visited the scene of the incident this morning. We visited with the Secretary and some other officials of the Secretariat. So, by tomorrow, the Secretary I think with the Minister of State will pay another visit to that place,” he said.

“I am sure that a lot of information that will be useful to you, you will get it. If you can just be patient, tomorrow you will get all the information you need. If you go there, there is nothing there. If you know that place, do you know that they removed the roof, and the windows inclusive, apart from the food items?”, he added.

This newspaper earlier reported that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had denied reports that its Abuja warehouse was looted.

NEMA added that the Director-General Mustapha Habib Ahmed, had instructed the strengthening of security at its zonal offices and warehouses nationwide, “to forestall any security breach at NEMA facilities”.

March 4, 2024 0 comments

Leading Reporters Books Across Borders Initiative has decried negligence of rural Primary schools in FCT lead by Solomon Oseagah

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NGO bemoans negligence of rural schools in FCT; describes LEA Primary Sch Kpakpantoshi as worse than IDP camp

by Leading Reporters January 21, 2023

written by Leading Reporters

A non-governmental pro-educational organization, Books Across Borders Initiative has decried negligence of rural Primary schools in FCT by the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

Leading Reporters Books Across Borders Initiative has decried negligence of rural Primary schools in FCT

Members of the board of trustees of the organization, led by Mr. Solomon Oseagah, during one of their periodic visits to schools in rural areas observed that LEA Primary School, Kpakpantoshi Angwa Shehu Karimo Abuja has been left in a state worse than an IDP camp.

***NGO bemoans negligence of rural schools in FCT; describes LEA Primary Sch Kpakpantoshi as worse than IDP camp***

Mr Oseagah who led the team of the board of trustees to the school expressed displeasure at what he described as outright negligence of schools in rural areas by the authorities of the Federal Capital territory.

Addressing newsmen in the organization’s office following inspection of rural schools in FCT, the Chairman, Board of Trustees Light Shedrack said it has become worrisome that FCT administration has continued to cater for schools within the city center, while blatantly neglecting schools and students in rural areas of the federal capital.

He said the school building poses danger to the lives of the pupils even as he said that there are no learning facilities that could aid pupils in their studies.

“From what we saw today, it is obvious that the administration of the Federal capital territory concentrates on schools within the city centers. We have been visiting schools in rural and isolated areas, and our experience is nothing to write home about.

“Today, we visited the LEA Primary School Kpakpantoshi and what we say was better imagined than experienced. From dilapidated buildings which pose safety threat to the lives of the pupils, to classrooms without ceilings, writing boards, desks and tables. The teachers have no enabling and conducive environment to teach. No library. No learning aids and materials. The condition of the pupils could be said to be worse than children in IDP camps. Some of the pupils sit on bare floor to study. The truth is that those children are exposed to avoidable dangers.

Mr. Shedrack said that the school is one of the schools the organization has enlisted in its ”One-child, One-Book Project” of the organization. He therefore called on the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory, the senator and honourable members, including the local council authorities representing Kpakpantoshi constituency to hasten to the help of the pupils before the unimaginable happens.

Books Across Borders Initiative is a pro-literacy and skills acquisition advocate group comprising of educationists, authors and other stakeholders in educations and skills acquisition. The group donates mind-enriching books to schools and pupils in rural and isolated areas in Nigeria.

January 21, 2023 0 comments

Headlines

FCT VIO To Crush 1,500 Impounded Motorcycles

by Folarin Kehinde March 21, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said that the administration was set to destroy 1,500 motorcycles impounded by the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) otherwise known as Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) from riders who violated traffic rules and regulations in the nation’s capital.

Director of DRTS, Abdulateef Bello, made this known when he paid an on-the-spot visit to the DRTS Taskforce office in Wuye to acquaint himself with the activities of the team.

“Like we did the last time, these motorcycles have been impounded and awaiting crushing exercise, they are motorcycles that were arrested, contravening the law and regulations, driving against the traffic within the Federal Capital City (FCC)

“Right now we have over one thousand two hundred waiting to be crushed. As much as the exercise is ongoing, we are calculating by our estimation when we have one thousand five hundred motorcycles, then we begin another second round of the crushing.

“These motorcycles were impounded within three to four months, we did the last exercise around November and December, then we started assembling the newly impounded motorcycles,” he said.

Bello, however, said that government will not rest on its oars until the nation’s capital was free from Okada, which constitutes a nuisance and security threat.

He warned Okada riders to obey the rules and the restraining order not to ply the FCT routes, adding that, “They should stay within the confined areas such as estates and market places, not to approach the highways. So, all those that contravened the law will face this particular punishment of having their bikes crushed.”

Speaking on what they will use the crushed Okada for, the DRTs boss said it will be given to auctioneers who have use for the parts, which can be converted into other economic use that will, in turn, help to eliminate poverty in away and also boost revenue generation in FCT.

March 21, 2022 0 comments

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FCTA Locks Out Unvaccinated Workers From Accessing Premises

by Folarin Kehinde January 17, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has commenced the implementation of the circular issued last week that threatened to bar all unvaccinated workers from accessing its premises.

Members of staff of the FCTA who reported to duties on Monday were jolted when they learnt that of the screening by security agencies.

It was gathered that those who could not provide evidence of vaccination were prevented from accessing the premises.

A senior official of the FCTA who preferred anonymity said those that have not been vaccinated were prevented from entering the premises and were asked to go get vaccinated.

Recall that the FCTA last week issued a warning that all unvaccinated staff would be barred from accessing its premises with effect from Monday, January 17, 2022.

The warning was contained in a circular signed by the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, which was issued on Monday, January 10, 2022.

The circular was addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) all Mandate Secretaries, Coordinators of AMMC, STDD as well as Heads of all Departments and FCTA Agencies.

The circular reads in part that: “All members of staff are therefore required to show evidence of COVID-19 Vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours, failure of which such members of staff will not be allowed to the office premises commencing from Monday, January 17, 2022.”

January 17, 2022 0 comments

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Abuja’s Utako Village: Where Prostitutes deliberately infect ‘Customers’ with HIV/AIDS

by Folarin Kehinde September 11, 2021

written by Folarin Kehinde

Prostitution which was once an immoral act to engage in has now become one of the fastest growing business in major cities without leaving the shanties aside.

The ever growing rate of unemployment and harsh economic situation has contributed to the ‘booming’ business as a major means of livelihood for perpetrators.

The business has transcended beyond the illiterates, school drop-out but graduates now fully engage in this act owing to rate of unemployment and pressure to meet up familys’ ever increasing demand.

Of greater worry is the huge number of young teenagers from 16-upward engaging in this act to be paid as little as #500 for short time and #2000 for full time.

Sadly, many of the parents of this girls believes that their daughters are engaged in legitimate business in the city center and even encourage them to be more hardworking and pray for them owing to the money and goddies sent home on daily basis.

Kutako, fondly called Utako a centre of attraction in the Federal Capital Territory because of its proximity to anywhere in the capital city is always abuzz with commercial activities both day and night.

And as such, it is not so surprising that while many hustling residents engage in legitimate business, the village (utako) houses one of the cheapest hub forcommercial sex workers in the FCT.

The village is also known as hideouts for drug peddlers, criminals and smokers who consume and sell drugs to customers, the high and mighty secretly patronize them too.

The FCTA recently demolished over 1000 shanties but the rate at which prostitutes has returned is quite alarming.

In what seems like a nightmare, the prostitutes deliberately infect their “Customers” with HIV/AIDS, one of the prostitutes was caught verbally saying this.

As they (Prostitutes) are commonly known as best friends of benefits and worse enemy, over the week a hot argument ensued between them and led to a street bloody fight in broad day light.

One of the prostitutes, out of annoyance threatened to arrest her colleague whom she fought with with claim that her friend infects men with HIV/AIDS.

In her words ” So you think you can fight abi, see how you use your fingers to disfigure my face, don’t worry, I will deal with you”.

“I am going to report you to the police for infecting men with HIV/AIDS, you have been sharing it for a long time, I just pity men that come here, they don’t know anything!

September 11, 2021 0 comments

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