Court Orders FCT Workers to Suspend Strike as Industrial Dispute Heads to Mediation

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja Division, has ordered workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to suspend their ongoing strike action, following an interlocutory injunction sought by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration.

The ruling was delivered on Tuesday by Justice E.D. Subilim in a suit marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026, in which the FCT Administration challenged the legality of the industrial action embarked upon by workers over unresolved welfare and administrative grievances. The suit was filed against the Chairman of the Joint Union Action Committee, Rifkatu Iortyer, and the committee’s Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh.

The claimants had asked the court to restrain the union leaders, their members, agents, and representatives from embarking on or continuing any form of industrial action, including strikes, picketing, lockouts, or activities capable of disrupting the operations of the FCT Administration and its agencies.

In his ruling, Justice Subilim acknowledged that the matter before the court constituted a trade dispute and had satisfied the legal requirements for judicial intervention. However, he emphasized that the right of workers to embark on industrial action is not absolute and must be exercised strictly within the limits prescribed by law.

“The defendants’ right to an industrial action is not absolute, but as circumscribed by law,” the judge stated.

Justice Subilim explained that once a trade dispute has been formally referred to the National Industrial Court, workers are legally prohibited from engaging in strike action. He further held that where such a strike is already in progress, it must be suspended pending the determination of the substantive case before the court.

The court consequently granted the interlocutory injunction, ordering the immediate suspension of the strike. In the ruling, Justice Subilim restrained the defendants and all members of the Joint Union Action Committee from continuing or embarking on any form of industrial action, strike, picketing, lockout, or obstruction capable of crippling the activities of the FCT Administration.

The injunction also covered actions such as blocking roads, obstructing vehicular movement, disrupting public services, or otherwise frustrating the official and business activities of the FCT Administration, its parastatals, and political appointees. The court ordered that the injunction would remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons filed in the suit.

The matter was adjourned to March 23, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive case.

Reacting to the ruling, counsel to the claimants, James Onoja, SAN, commended the court for granting the order, describing it as an opportunity for dialogue and peaceful resolution of the dispute. He appealed to the workers to obey the court order and return to work while discussions and mediation take place.

According to him, the suspension of the strike would allow both parties to engage constructively in resolving the issues at stake, stressing the importance of industrial harmony in public service.

“Our plea to the Union is that they should allow industrial harmony. They should go back to work and allow for mediation. This is an opportunity that the Union should take,” Onoja said.

On the other side, counsel for the respondents, Maxwell Opara, assured the court that the workers were law-abiding citizens who would respect the court’s decision. He noted that while the union maintained its grievances, it would comply with the ruling and pursue its demands through legal and formal processes.

Opara also pointed out that the court had mandated the commencement of mediation between the parties in line with the law, adding that the union would take the necessary procedural steps to engage meaningfully in that process.

Meanwhile, JUAC President, Rifkatu Iortyer, confirmed that the workers would comply with the court order by suspending the strike and resuming work immediately. She reiterated the union’s commitment to lawful conduct while maintaining that workers would continue to press for the resolution of their outstanding grievances through appropriate channels.

“We are law-abiding citizens. Because the court has ordered us to return to work, we are returning to work pending our next appearance,” she stated.

The ruling has sparked mixed reactions across the FCT and beyond. While some stakeholders welcomed the decision as a step toward restoring normalcy and encouraging dialogue, others expressed concern over what they described as a recurring pattern of judicial intervention that halts industrial action without immediately compelling authorities to address workers’ welfare demands.

As the case proceeds to substantive hearing and mediation, attention will remain on whether the suspension of the strike will translate into concrete resolutions of the issues that led to the industrial action, particularly those relating to promotions, allowances, and pension remittances. The outcome is expected to have significant implications for industrial relations within the FCT public service.