Members of the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) intercepted the convoy of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as he attempted to exit the FCTA Secretariat via a rear gate on Monday. The move, which was captured in video footage by News Central, saw a group of determined workers blocking the Minister’s motorcade as he sought an alternative route to avoid the primary protest lines at the main entrance.
The standoff is the latest flashpoint in an indefinite strike action that has grounded administrative activities across the capital’s secretariats and agencies. The workers are protesting several long-standing grievances, including the non-payment of outstanding promotion arrears, the non-remittance of statutory pension and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions, and the continued extension of service for retired directors, which the unions say is stifling career progression for younger staff.
Despite a lawsuit filed by the FCT Minister at the National Industrial Court seeking to restrain the unions from picketing and blocking roads, the demonstrators have remained resolute. During the interception, union members were heard chanting and demanding a direct audience with the Minister, who they claim has repeatedly refused to meet with stakeholders to discuss worker welfare. While security personnel eventually cleared a path for the convoy, the incident underscores the deepening rift between the administration and its workforce.
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