Nigeria Labour Congress Rejects Court Order Halting FCT Workers' Strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected a court order that suspended the ongoing strike by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The NLC General Secretary, Benson Upah, stated that the court's decision to halt the strike without addressing the core complaints raised by the workers will not weaken their resolve.

The NLC accused the FCTA of various violations, including the non-remittance of statutory deductions such as the National Housing Fund (NHF) and pension contributions, which are clear violations of existing laws. The NLC highlighted that the failure to remit NHF deductions could attract heavy fines or even jail terms for responsible officials.

The Congress also cited the Pension Reform Act of 2014, which mandates employers to remit pension deductions promptly, failing which penalties of 24% per annum may apply. The NLC further accused the FCT Minister of escalating tensions by threatening to sack striking workers following the court ruling.