Workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration are set to shut down government operations across Abuja and its six area councils as a major industrial strike is scheduled to begin on Monday. The action, called by the Joint Union Action Congress, is expected to paralyse activities in key secretariats, departments, agencies and parastatals responsible for running Nigeria’s capital.

The unions say the strike is a last resort after years of unfulfilled promises, stalled negotiations and what they describe as a pattern of disregard for workers’ welfare and statutory entitlements. The directive covers staff at all levels, from junior employees to senior management, and includes workers in the Federal Capital Development Authority and other FCTA-linked institutions.

In a notice circulated to workers and senior officials of the administration, JUAC accused the FCTA leadership of failing to address a raft of unresolved labour issues despite repeated engagements and a formal ultimatum. The unions said they had given the administration ample time to respond, but that the deadline expired without any concrete action.

The Public Relations Officer of JUAC, Holina Adejoh, confirmed that the strike would go ahead, insisting that workers had been pushed to the wall. She explained that the unions had exhausted internal mechanisms for dialogue and could no longer persuade their members to remain patient in the face of what they see as systemic neglect.

At the heart of the dispute are complaints over unpaid promotion arrears, delayed or stalled promotions, and the controversial extension of service for some retired directors and permanent secretaries. Union leaders argue that keeping retired senior officials in office blocks career progression for serving staff and undermines morale across the service.

Workers also accuse the administration of failing to remit statutory deductions, including pension contributions and National Housing Fund payments, despite these sums being regularly deducted from their salaries. For many employees, the alleged non-remittance raises fears about their financial security in retirement and their ability to access housing schemes tied to the NHF.

JUAC further expressed anger over the handling of the 2024 promotion examinations, which it described as a failure that left a large number of eligible staff without advancement. Union officials claim that the process lacked transparency and fairness, and that the outcome has deepened frustration among workers who already feel short-changed by the system.

The unions’ ultimatum, which triggered the current standoff, was formally communicated to the FCTA leadership and key political and administrative figures. Copies of the notice were sent to the Minister of State for the FCT, the Chief of Staff, the Head of Service and the Director of Security Services, underscoring the seriousness of the unions’ grievances and their intention to escalate the matter if ignored.

According to union sources, several meetings were held with FCTA management after the ultimatum was issued, but these engagements failed to produce binding commitments or a clear timetable for resolving the outstanding issues. The unions say that while officials repeatedly promised to “look into” the complaints, no concrete steps were taken before the deadline elapsed.

The looming shutdown raises significant concerns for residents and businesses in Abuja, where the FCTA plays a central role in urban planning, infrastructure maintenance, environmental services, health, education and revenue collection. A full-scale strike could disrupt the issuance of building approvals, business permits and other regulatory documents, as well as slow down public works and essential administrative services.

Area councils, which handle grassroots governance and local services in the territory, are also expected to be hit. Staff in these councils are part of the unions’ membership and have been instructed to withdraw their services in solidarity. This could affect primary healthcare centres, local revenue offices, sanitation services and other frontline operations that residents rely on daily.

Labour analysts note that the dispute reflects broader tensions within Nigeria’s public sector, where workers frequently complain about delayed promotions, unpaid entitlements and opaque human resource practices. In the FCT, these grievances are amplified by the symbolic importance of Abuja as the seat of federal power and a showcase for national governance.

Union leaders argue that the situation in the FCTA is particularly galling because of the visibility of the territory and the expectation that it should set a standard for administrative efficiency and respect for labour laws. Instead, they say, workers have been left to grapple with uncertainty over their career progression and retirement benefits.

For many staff, the issue of pension and housing fund remittances is especially sensitive. Employees say they have continued to see deductions on their payslips, yet some have encountered difficulties when trying to verify that these funds are being credited to their retirement savings or housing accounts. The unions insist that full reconciliation and immediate remittance of all outstanding deductions must be part of any settlement.

The controversy over the extension of service for retired senior officials has also become a flashpoint. JUAC contends that such extensions, often justified on grounds of “institutional memory” or “ongoing projects,” are being abused and have turned into a tool for sidelining younger officers who have met all requirements for promotion. The unions want a clear, transparent policy that limits such extensions and protects the rights of serving staff.

As the strike date approaches, there is growing pressure on the FCTA leadership to open meaningful negotiations and avert a total shutdown. Civil society groups and professional associations in Abuja have begun to voice concern about the potential impact on governance and service delivery, urging both sides to find a compromise.

However, union officials insist that any last-minute talks must go beyond verbal assurances. They are demanding written commitments, specific timelines and mechanisms for monitoring implementation, arguing that previous promises have been repeatedly broken or quietly abandoned once industrial actions were suspended.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the FCTA have so far been unsuccessful. Calls and messages to key media aides and senior officials have gone unanswered, leaving the administration’s position unclear. This silence has further fuelled speculation that the authorities may be underestimating the scale of the disruption that a coordinated strike could cause.

Within the workforce, mobilisation is already in full swing. Union branches across secretariats and agencies have been holding meetings to brief members on the strike directive and to ensure compliance. Workers have been advised not to report to their duty posts once the action begins, and monitoring teams are expected to move around offices to enforce the shutdown.