FCT schools, health centres remain shut as workers strike lingers

Primary schools and the health centres remain shut as the strike action declared by the FCTA workers under the auspices of Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) enters the 9th day.

Our correspondent reports that the FCT chapters of the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) had on Monday joined the JUAC’s strike in solidarity.

Residents have lamented the impact of the closure of the facilities with pupils remaining at homes.

Our correspondent who went round some of the area councils, reports that the public primary schools remained locked while many residents who went to local health centres were not attended to.

At the FCTA secretariat, workers were seen around the Secretariats, Departments and Agencies performing their routine duties.

The situation was the same at the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) as workers were seen in their offices.

But JUAC had ordered its members to continue the strike action until all their demands were met.

The action followed the appeal of the ruling of the National Industrial Court on Jan. 27, which directed the workers to suspend the strike and adjourned the matter to March 23.

The union filed the appeal against the decision of the industrial court through its lead counsel Femi Falana SAN.

Shortly after filing the appeal, Secretary of JUAC, Abdullahi Saleh, in a circular, told the workers that the strike continued from Thursday.

He encouraged the workers to stay at home and pray for the success of the strike, stressing that the struggle demands unity, discipline and unwavering commitment.

He recalled that the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had in a Joint communique issued on Jan. 28, asked the FCT workers to defend their rights with courage and dignity.

The labour unions argued that the order of interlocutory injunction obtained by Wike and the FCTA was against the President of JUAC, Mrs Rifkatu Iortyer and Saleh, and not the trade unions.

In a communique signed by NLC acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, and TUC Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, the unions insisted that the strike continues until Wike negotiates with the FCT workers.

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