The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja, has fixed today for ruling in a suit filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration (FCTA against leaders of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) over the ongoing strike by FCT workers.
Justice E.D. Subilim adjourned the matter after listening to arguments from counsel representing both parties in suit number NICN/ABJ/17/2026.
The claimants are seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining JUAC Chairman, Rifkatu Iortyer, and Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, alongside their agents, from embarking on any industrial action, picketing or lockout.
The strike, which began last week following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum, has crippled activities across key FCTA offices in Abuja, including the FCTA Secretariat, where security operatives were deployed to restrict access.
Despite assurances by FCTA management that most of the workers’ demands had been addressed, JUAC leaders rejected the claims, insisting that critical issues remained unresolved.
At the hearing, counsel for the workers, Maxwell Opara, urged the court to dismiss the application, arguing that granting the reliefs sought would amount to determining the substantive case at an interlocutory stage.
He cited the Supreme Court judgment in Opara Agwu & Anor v. Julius Berger Plc, warning against compelling workers to resume duties while salary-related issues remained unsettled.
“Directing hungry workers to return to work is dangerous,” Opara told the court, while also urging Justice Subilim to consider arbitration and compel the FCT minister to participate in mediation.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until today for ruling.
Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, counsel to the FCTA, James Onoja (SAN), questioned the legal standing of JUAC, insisting the body lacked juristic personality.
“The people who called the strike are an illegal body. JUAC is not registered under the Trade Union Act, and because of that, they cannot call a strike. So, this strike is illegal. That is our contention before the court,” Onoja said.
He added that the FCT Administration had been open to dialogue.
“We are talking about a government that is ready to listen. Mediation was ongoing, but they went on strike without following due process,” he stated.
However, Opara countered that the union had made several attempts to resolve the dispute amicably.
“We wrote no fewer than 11 letters to the minister outlining our grievances and requesting mediation. Instead of engaging workers, he is wasting time in court trying to intimidate them,” Opara said.
He added:
“If you call off the strike now, you want an angry, hungry man to go and start work? That is even more dangerous.”
Explaining why JUAC sought to join the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the suit, Opara said the case was wrongly targeted at only two individuals.
“They sued only the JUAC president and secretary in their personal capacities. If the court gives an order, it binds only two people. Meanwhile, Labour and TUC have already directed affiliated unions to join a solidarity strike. That makes them necessary parties,” he argued.
Meanwhile, workers of the FCT Administration and the Federal Capital Development Agency, backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress, picketed the Industrial Court premises ahead of the ruling, demanding the removal of the FCT minister.
The protest followed an NLC directive supporting the strike, which the labour body described as justified amid alleged persistent violations of workers’ rights by FCTA leadership.
The unions also accused the administration of wage abuse, intimidation and failure to meet statutory obligations.
Placards carried by protesters bore messages such as “Wike must go!”, “Abuja no be Rivers”, “Pay promotion arrears”, “Enough is enough”, “Pay us our pension now”, “Respect Civil Service rules” and “No working tools”.
Other unions, including the Nigerian Union of Teachers, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, National Union of Electricity Employees and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (FCT chapter), have also joined the industrial action.
