‘Wike Must Go!’: NLC Storms Court as Ajaero Declares Total War on FCTA Management

ABUJA — The industrial crisis rocking the nation’s capital escalated dramatically on Monday morning as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) officially threw its weight behind the striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), storming the National Industrial Court in a show of force against FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Led by NLC President Joe Ajaero, hundreds of workers under the aegis of the Joint Unions Action Congress (JUAC) besieged the court premises in Area 3, chanting solidarity songs and demanding the immediate payment of accrued wage awards and promotion arrears.

The protest coincides with the hearing of a suit filed by Minister Wike seeking to restrain the workers from continuing their indefinite strike, which began on January 19, 2026.

“Your Struggle Is Our Struggle”

Addressing the angry workers, Ajaero declared that the Congress would no longer stand by while the FCTA management “criminalized” legitimate labour demands. He described the strike not just as a dispute, but as a “heroic response” to administrative impunity.

“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,” Ajaero stated in a directive released earlier today. “We mandate all trade unions in the FCT to immediately forge a formidable alliance. This is no longer just a labour dispute; it is a people’s struggle against an insensitive administration.”

The NLC President directed all affiliate unions in the capital to fully align with the strike, effectively threatening a total shutdown of public services in Abuja if the demands are not met.

The Bone of Contention

The workers are protesting against what they term “economic sabotage” by the Wike-led administration. The key grievances include:

• Unpaid Wage Awards: The illegal withholding of five months’ wage award arrears.
• Pension Divergence: Non-remittance of pension contributions and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions since May 2025, which the union says jeopardizes the future of retiring staff.
• Intimidation: Allegations that the FCTA management has resorted to “fascistic tactics,” including banning phone usage in offices and deploying security agencies to harass union leaders.

Wike Strikes Back in Court

While the workers protested outside, the legal battle raged inside. The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has asked the court to declare the strike illegal, arguing that his administration has met “10 out of 14” demands.

In court filings, the FCTA claimed that the strike is politically motivated and damaging to the government’s ability to generate revenue. However, the workers rejected this claim, waving placards with inscriptions such as “Abuja is not Rivers” and “Pay Us Our Money.”

As of the time of filing this report, the court session was ongoing, with heavy security presence from the Nigeria Police and the Civil Defence Corps attempting to maintain order at the entrance.