Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers, supported by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), staged a protest on Monday at the National Industrial Court in Abuja.

The demonstration highlighted ongoing grievances over unpaid promotion arrears, poor working conditions, and other unresolved welfare issues.

The workers are currently engaged in a total and indefinite strike that has disrupted operations across FCTA departments. Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Pay promotion arrears,” “Enough is Enough,” “No working tools,” “Wike must go!!,” and “Abuja no be Rivers,” protesters demanded the immediate settlement of outstanding entitlements and, in some cases, called for the removal of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

The NLC fully backed the industrial action, stating that the protest and strike followed repeated failed negotiations with FCTA leadership.

Union officials emphasized that months of complaints regarding delayed promotions, inadequate tools, and deteriorating workplace conditions had left workers with no alternative but to escalate the matter.

The demonstration coincided with a court session on the dispute. The National Industrial Court heard arguments in a suit filed by the FCTA authorities challenging the legality of the strike.

Justice Emmanuel Danjuma adjourned proceedings, with a ruling on motions—including any to halt the industrial action—scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

The labour dispute has persisted for months, with unions rejecting FCTA claims that certain demands have been met, insisting that critical issues like promotion arrears remain unaddressed.

The strike has reportedly led to widespread disruptions, including school closures in some areas as teachers joined the action.

Security personnel were present at the court premises as protesters chanted solidarity songs and maintained a peaceful picket throughout the day.

In a decisive move to enforce the abolition of the long-standing Monday “sit-at-home” order in Anambra State, Governor Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has directed the immediate closure of the iconic Onitsha Main Market for one full week.

The governor’s action stems from reports that traders at the bustling market failed to open for business on Monday, January 26, 2026, in defiance of repeated state government directives mandating full resumption of commercial activities every Monday. The sit-at-home practice, originally linked to security concerns and separatist agitations in the Southeast, has been officially abolished by the Anambra State Government as part of broader efforts to restore normalcy, boost economic activity, and improve security.

Governor Soludo, who has consistently warned that non-compliant markets, shops, or plazas would face sealing for one week (and potentially longer for repeated violations), invoked this penalty following the apparent non-compliance at Onitsha Main Market—one of Nigeria’s largest and most economically vital commercial hubs.

The closure is expected to remain in effect for seven days, during which trading activities will be suspended. State authorities have emphasized that the measure aims to send a strong message against any lingering adherence to the sit-at-home order, which has previously crippled commerce across parts of the region.

Details on enforcement mechanisms, potential extensions of the closure, and reactions from market leaders and traders are still emerging. The state government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring Mondays are fully operational business days statewide, with similar warnings issued to other markets, schools, and civil servants (including threats of salary deductions for non-compliance).

This development comes amid ongoing efforts by the Soludo administration to end the sit-at-home phenomenon, which has seen varying levels of observance despite improved security in recent times.

Further updates will follow as more information becomes available.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Monday, January 26, for a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye.

The visit is aimed at strengthening the existing cordial relations between the two countries and exploring further areas of cooperation in security, education, social development, innovation, and aviation.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid an official visit to Nigeria from October 19 to 20, 2021.

Bayo Onanuga , Special Adviser to the President(Information & Strategy), said that during President Tinubu’s visit, both countries will engage in strategic political and diplomatic discussions on shared values in finance, communication, trade and investment.

The agenda will include meetings between high-ranking officials of both nations and the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military cooperation and protocol, among others.

A business forum will bring together investors from both countries to explore areas of interest during the visit.

Members of the President’s entourage participating in the bilateral discussions include: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd) and Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Jimi Benson.

Others are: Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.

President Tinubu is expected to return to the country at the conclusion of the visit.