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, ordering workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) to immediately suspend their ongoing strike.
The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026, was instituted by the FCT Minister and the FCT Administration against the Chairman of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer, and its Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh. The claimants sought a court order restraining the union leaders and their members from embarking on industrial action, picketing government offices, or declaring any form of lockout.
Delivering his ruling, Justice E.D. Subilim acknowledged that the case qualified as a trade dispute and had satisfied the legal requirements for adjudication. However, he stressed that the right of workers to embark on strike action is not absolute once a matter has been brought before the court.
According to the judge, labour laws prohibit workers from continuing a strike after a dispute has been referred to the National Industrial Court.
He said, “Once a trade dispute is before this court, parties are barred from taking steps that may prejudice the determination of the suit. Where a strike is already ongoing, it must cease pending the outcome of the case.”
Granting the application, Justice Subilim ruled:
“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.”
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to a date in two months for hearing of the substantive case.
The ruling comes amid rising tension between the FCT Administration and organised labour over unresolved welfare issues, with workers insisting on improved working conditions and payment of outstanding entitlements.
