BREAKING: Court backs Wike, orders FCT workers to suspend strike

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja, has granted an interlocutory injunction filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration, compelling workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) to suspend their ongoing strike.

The claimants had dragged the Chairman of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer, and its Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, before the court in suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026, seeking an order restraining the defendants and their agents from embarking on any industrial action, picketing, or lockout.

Delivering his ruling on Tuesday, Justice E.D. Subilim noted that while the matter amounted to a trade dispute and had met the required legal conditions, the defendants’ right to strike was not absolute.

He ruled that workers were prohibited from participating in a strike once a dispute had been referred to the National Industrial Court, adding that any strike already underway 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 claimant. The order shall remain in force pending the determination of this suit,” Justice Subilim stated.

The court adjourned the matter until March 23, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive suit.