The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja Division, has ordered workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to suspend their ongoing strike.
The ruling followed an application for an interlocutory injunction filed by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, alongside the FCT Administration, against the leadership of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC).
In the suit marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026, the claimants dragged the Chairman of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer, and its Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh, before the court, seeking an order restraining the union and its members from embarking on industrial action, picketing, or lockout.
Delivering his ruling on Tuesday, Justice E. D. Subilim held that while the dispute qualified as a trade dispute and met the required legal thresholds, the right of workers to embark on strike action is not absolute.
The court ruled that once a trade dispute is referred to the National Industrial Court, workers are legally barred from embarking on, or continuing with, any industrial action pending the determination of the case.
Consequently, Justice Subilim granted the interlocutory injunction, ordering the immediate suspension of the ongoing strike by FCT workers.
“The order shall remain in force pending the determination of this suit,” the judge ruled.
The matter was adjourned to March 23, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
