By Our Correspondent
Normal activities have gradually returned across offices of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) as workers resumed their duties after a court order directed the suspension of the ongoing strike action.
The resumption followed a ruling by the National Industrial Court, which ordered FCTA workers to halt industrial action and return to work while the dispute remains before the court. The court maintained that once a matter is under judicial consideration, all parties are required to maintain the status quo and refrain from actions that could undermine the legal process.
In compliance with the ruling, the FCTA management issued an official circular instructing workers across all Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) to immediately resume work. Attendance registers were also reinstated to monitor compliance, signaling management’s intent to restore full administrative operations.
By midweek, many government offices within the FCT recorded improved attendance, with staff gradually returning to their desks. Public services that had been disrupted during the strike, including administrative and regulatory functions, also began to pick up, bringing relief to residents and businesses affected by the shutdown.
The FCT Minister emphasized the importance of respecting the rule of law, noting that while workers have the right to express grievances, court orders must be obeyed. He warned that failure to comply with the directive could attract disciplinary or legal consequences.
Despite the return to work, underlying tensions remain unresolved. Labour unions have maintained that their demands ranging from unpaid wage awards to promotion arrears and other welfare issues are yet to be fully addressed. Discussions between labour representatives and government officials are expected to continue as the court prepares to hear the substantive matter at a later date.
For now, however, the court order has restored relative calm, with expectations that dialogue and legal processes will determine a lasting resolution to the dispute.
