The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) sitting in Abuja has ordered workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) to immediately suspend their ongoing strike.
The ruling followed an interlocutory injunction filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration (FCTA) against JUAC leaders, including its Chairman, Rifkatu Iortyer, and Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh.
The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026, sought to stop the union and its members from engaging in any form of industrial action, picketing, or lockout against the FCT Administration.
Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, Justice E.D. Subilim said that although the dispute qualified as a trade dispute, the workers’ right to strike was not absolute.
He said once a dispute is referred to the National Industrial Court, workers are prohibited from continuing with strike action.
“Workers are prohibited from participating in a strike once a dispute has been referred to the National Industrial Court,” Justice Subilim ruled. “Where such a strike is already ongoing, it must cease pending the determination of the case.”
The court therefore granted an interlocutory injunction, restraining the union from further industrial action until the substantive case is heard and determined.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted… restraining the defendants and their representatives from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimant,” the judge stated.
The case has been adjourned to March 23, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
