Relief came on Tuesday as the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja, ordered striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to immediately suspend their industrial action.
The court granted an interlocutory injunction filed by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration against the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), effectively grounding the strike that has shut down activities across FCTA secretariats.
The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026, was brought against the JUAC Chairman, Mrs. Rifkatu Iortyer, and the Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, seeking to stop the union from embarking on strike, picketing or any form of lockout.
In his ruling, Justice E.D. Subilim held that although the dispute qualified as a trade dispute, the right to strike is not absolute once the matter has been taken to court.
The judge ruled that workers are barred from embarking on or continuing any strike after a dispute has been referred to the National Industrial Court, stressing that any ongoing industrial action must cease immediately.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the defendants and their representatives from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimants, pending the determination of this suit,” the judge declared.
The court adjourned the case to March 23, 2026, for hearing of the substantive matter.
With the ruling, FCTA offices are expected to reopen as workers return to duty.
