By Abuja, Nigeria
Justice E.D. Subilim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja, has ordered workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to return to work after granting an interlocutory injunction filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration, compelling workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) to suspend their ongoing strike.
In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Subilim held that the matter before the court amounted to a trade dispute and had met the required legal conditions, the defendants’ right to embark on industrial action was not absolute.
He said “The defendant’s right to an industrial action is not absolute, but as circumscribed by law.”
The claimants had dragged the Chairman of the Joint Union Action Committee, Rifkatu Iortyer, and the 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 or lockout.
Justice Subilim ruled that workers were prohibited from participating in a strike once a dispute had been referred to the National Industrial Court, insisting that where such a strike was already ongoing, it must cease pending the determination of the case.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the defendants and respondents, their agents, representatives… together with all other members of the Joint Unions Action Committee … from further embarking on any industrial action, strike, picketing, lockout, or any other form of obstruction against the claimant, parastatals, and political appointees.
“This includes but is not limited to actions aimed at crippling operations, blocking roads, obstructing the flow of vehicular movement… or by any means frustrating their business activities. This order shall remain in force, pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons filed in this suit,” Justice Subilim said.
The court however adjourned the case until March 23, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
