BREAKING: Court orders FCT workers to suspend strike

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja has issued an interlocutory injunction requested by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration, directing members of the Joint Union Action Committee to halt their ongoing strike.

The applicants had approached the court against the Chairman of the Joint Union Action Committee, Rifkatu Iortyer, and Secretary Abdullahi Umar Saleh, through suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026, seeking a court order to prevent the defendants and their associates from initiating any industrial action, picketing, or lockout.

In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice E.D. Subilim noted that although the case qualified as a trade dispute and fulfilled the necessary legal requirements, the defendants’ right to strike was not unrestricted.

He stressed that once a dispute is submitted to the National Industrial Court, workers are barred from engaging in industrial action. In situations where a strike has already begun, it must be suspended until the court reaches a decision.

“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the claimants and 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 scheduled the substantive hearing for March 23, 2026.

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