Nathan said all staff members across the various secretariats, departments, and agencies are required to resume their duties at their respective posts without delay to ensure the continuity of government operations.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ordered all departments to take attendance and maintain staff registers to enforce a court-ordered resumption of work.
Acting Head of the Civil Service of the FCT, Nancy Sabanti Nathan, issued the directive in a circular dated Tuesday, January 27, instructing all Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments to immediately take attendance of staff and maintain attendance registers.
The circular followed a ruling by Justice E. D. Subilim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which ordered that the ongoing strike by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) be suspended forthwith.
Nathan said all staff members across the various secretariats, departments, and agencies are required to resume their duties at their respective posts without delay to ensure the continuity of government operations.
In her communication to the Secretaries of Mandate Secretariats, Coordinators of major councils, and Permanent Secretaries, Nathan said the call for immediate resumption is coupled with a continued commitment from the FCTA Management to prioritise the welfare of its staff.
She instructed all senior officials to ensure the contents of the directive are brought to the attention of all concerned personnel to guarantee total and immediate compliance with the judicial mandate.
“Consequently, all Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments and Agencies are directed by this circular to maintain staff attendance register even as Management is committed to the welfare of members of staff,” she said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the NICN in Abuja ordered workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) to suspend their ongoing strike action that had paralysed activities in the FCT.
Justice E.D. Subilim granted an interlocutory injunction filed by the Minister of the FCT, Wike, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026, restraining JUAC and its leadership from continuing the industrial action.
The FCT Minister and the FCTA had sued the Chairman of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer, and its Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, seeking an order restraining them, their agents and privies from embarking on, continuing or participating in any industrial action, including picketing or lockout.
Delivering his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Subilim held that although the dispute qualified as a trade dispute and had met the required legal conditions, the right of workers to embark on strike was not absolute.
He ruled that once a trade dispute had been referred to the National Industrial Court, workers were prohibited from participating in any strike, adding that where such action was already ongoing, it must cease pending the determination of the case.
The court adjourned the matter to March 23, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.