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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Abuja, has directed workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to immediately suspend their ongoing strike action.
The order followed the granting of an interlocutory injunction in favour of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration, against the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC).
The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026, was instituted by the FCT Minister and the Administration against the JUAC Chairman, Rifkatu Iortyer, and the Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, seeking to restrain the union and its members from embarking on industrial action, picketing, or lockout.
In his ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice E.D. Subilim held that while the dispute satisfied the conditions of a trade dispute under the law, the right to strike was not without limitations.
The court held that once a dispute is referred to the National Industrial Court, workers are prohibited from commencing or continuing any form of industrial action until the matter is fully determined.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the defendants and their representatives from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimants. This order shall remain in force pending the determination of this suit,” Justice Subilim ruled.
The matter was adjourned to March 23, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive suit.