By Danjuma Amodu | January 26, 2026
Tension escalated at the FCTA headquarters today as workers on strike hurled insults at Minister Nyesom Wike, labelling him a thief. The situation became so intense that Wike reportedly fled through a back door to avoid the protesters.
This development follows Wike’s lawsuit against the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) over the indefinite strike, which has paralysed government offices in Abuja.
The workers are demanding payment of five months’ wage award, promotion arrears, and remittance of pension contributions and National Housing Fund deductions.
While the FCTA management claims to have met most demands, JUAC insists issues remain unresolved. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) backs the strike, calling it a “necessary and heroic response” to sustained attacks on workers’ rights.
The dispute heads to court today, with Wike seeking to restrain unions from picketing and disrupting activities. The National Industrial Court has granted leave for substituted service of court processes.
But in a calculated comradeship style, the protesting workers laid an ambush for the Minister at the FCTA, which resulted in the chaos today.
Workers speaking on condition of anonymity vented their frustration, with one remarking, “FCT is not Rivers. He can’t act like an emperor here.”
Another worker slammed Wike’s priorities, pointing to his son’s extravagant graduation party abroad, where he reportedly wore a pair of shoes valued at over ₦3 million.
A health worker painted a grim picture of FCT hospitals, saying patients are forced to buy even basic essentials, highlighting the dire state of healthcare facilities.
