The headquarters of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) were on Monday morning deserted and locked, as workers heeded an indefinite strike call by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) over demands for improved working conditions.
By 8:00 a.m., the main gates of the secretariat complex were chained, turning away staff and visitors alike.
The action followed a late-Sunday circular from JUAC leadership titled “Code Remain at Home”, instructing total compliance with the industrial action.
“By this notice, all staff are advised to stay at home as the strike action declared by JUAC commences.
“Do not come to work because JUAC taskforce will be on ground to ensure compliance. ‘Aluta Continua! Victoria Acerta!’ The struggle continues, victory is certain!” the circular stated.
A JUAC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity at the sealed gate, framed the strike as a last resort.
“We have been pushed to the wall. Our agitations for a better working condition in FCTA have been ignored for too long. Enough is enough! We will remain at home until our grievances are addressed,” the official said.
A visit to the complex confirmed a total suspension of operations, with union task forces patrolling entrances and no administrative activity visible inside.
While the full details of the demands were not immediately disclosed, union sources indicated they revolved around outstanding issues of staff welfare, conditions of service, and implementation of long-agreed benefits.
As of press time, the managements of the FCTA and FCDA had not issued any official statement on the industrial action. The silence from Administration bosses has heightened anxiety among residents.
“This is a major disruption. If this persists, everything from land processing to public utilities coordination could be affected. The city’s administrative heartbeat has stopped,” observed a civil servant who was turned away.
The strike action has raised immediate concerns about the disruption of essential services across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with no indication of when dialogue might resume to resolve the impasse.
