The National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja has ordered workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to suspend their ongoing strike, despite labour unions’ insistence to continue protests.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim, on Tuesday, granted an interlocutory injunction following a suit filed by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration against the leadership of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC).
The claimants sued the JUAC Chairman, Rifkatu Iortyer, and its Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, in suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026, seeking an order restraining the union and its members from embarking on industrial action, picketing, or work stoppages.
In his ruling, Justice Subilim held that while the dispute qualified as a trade dispute and met legal requirements, the right to strike was not absolute.
He ruled that once a dispute had been referred to the National Industrial Court, workers were prohibited from continuing industrial action, adding that any ongoing strike must cease pending the determination of the case.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the defendants and their representatives from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimants. The order shall remain in force pending the determination of this suit,” the judge said.
The court adjourned the matter to March 23, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
The ruling followed earlier proceedings in which the court, on Monday, reserved January 27 for its decision after hearing arguments from counsel to both parties.
Read also: FCT workers’ Strike: Court to rule on motion to halt industrial action January 27
During those proceedings, Maxwell Okpara, counsel to the respondents, applied for the joinder of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), arguing that this would make any court order binding on them.
James Onoja, SAN, counsel to the minister, opposed the application.
Justice Subilim declined the request, ruling that the court could not join parties not listed by the claimants, noting that the suit was brought against the two named respondents.
Despite the court action, JUAC and allied labour unions maintained their position. On Monday, workers supported by the NLC and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) gathered at the National Industrial Court in Area 11, Abuja.
Placards carried by protesters read “Wike Must Go,” “Pay Our Promotion Arrears,” “Abuja No Be Rivers,” and “Enough Is Enough.”
In a statement issued on Monday, JUAC Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, urged workers to continue the protest.
The strike, now in its second week, has disrupted operations at the FCTA Secretariat, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), and other agencies.
The FCTA leadership said it has met 10 of the 14 demands presented by the unions and is addressing the remaining issues. The unions maintain that welfare issues, including unpaid salaries, promotion arrears, and working conditions, remain unresolved.
The industrial action followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued by the unions to the FCTA management on January 7, 2026.
JUAC Vice President, Musa Istifanus, said the strike followed unsuccessful attempts to engage the FCTA management.
During proceedings at the court on Monday, Minister Wike arrived at the premises and later exited through a secondary gate to accompany President Bola Tinubu to the airport for his trip to Turkey. Some protesters later moved toward the gate and proceeded to the Labour House.
The dispute remains unresolved as legal proceedings continue.
