By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Workers in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have resumed work, shunning the directive of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) to continue with its industrial action.
JUAC, in a statement signed by its Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, and issued to staff on Wednesday, January 28, directed workers to stay at home, in compliance with the union’s strike.
However, some staff of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) were seen at work on Thursday, January 28, carrying out their duties in defiance of the directive.
According to reports, a visit to FCTA and FCDA offices showed that workers were present and actively performing their responsibilities.
Some of the workers, who spoke on the development, said they chose to report to work in obedience to a court ruling.
Others noted that with the week being the last in the month and culminating in the payment of monthly salaries, they cannot risk being away from work.
One FCTA staff member said: “The court has said we should come to work, and we have no option but to comply. Also, this is the last week of January and we are expecting our salaries to be paid. If we don’t come to work, how will we get our salaries?”
The JUAC directive that the strike should continue came just a day after the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, January 27, granted an interlocutory injunction filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration, compelling workers under the union’s aegis to suspend their ongoing strike.
Delivering the ruling, Justice E.D. Subilim held that although the matter before the court constituted a trade dispute and met the required legal conditions, the defendants’ right to embark on industrial action was not absolute.
The judge ruled that workers were prohibited from participating in a strike once a dispute had been referred to the National Industrial Court, adding that where such a strike was already ongoing, it must cease pending the determination of the case.
Also, the acting Head of the Civil Service of the FCT, Mrs Nancy Sabanti, had issued a circular directing all Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) to open and strictly maintain staff attendance registers to ensure compliance with the court order.
