The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Abuja, has ordered workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to immediately suspend their ongoing strike action.
The court granted an interlocutory injunction filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration, directing workers operating under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) to halt all industrial action pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The ruling followed a suit instituted by the FCT authorities against the leadership of the Joint Union Action Committee, including its Chairman, Rifkatu Iortyer, and Secretary, Abdullahi Umar Saleh.
The case, filed as Suit No: NICN/ABJ/17/2026, sought an order restraining the defendants, their agents, and affiliates from embarking on or continuing any form of strike, picketing, or lockout capable of disrupting activities within the Federal Capital Territory.
Court: Right To Strike Not Absolute
Delivering his ruling on Tuesday, Justice E.D. Subilim held that although the dispute qualified as a trade dispute and had met the necessary legal thresholds, the right of workers to embark on industrial action is not absolute under Nigerian law.
The judge ruled that once a labour dispute has been formally referred to the National Industrial Court, workers are legally barred from embarking on or continuing a strike action.
According to him, where such a strike is already ongoing, it must be suspended immediately pending the court’s final determination of the matter.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the defendants and their representatives from further embarking on any industrial action against the claimant,” Justice Subilim ruled.
“The order shall remain in force pending the determination of this suit.”
Background To The Dispute
The legal action followed the decision by FCT workers, under the Joint Union Action Committee, to embark on a strike over unresolved labour-related issues with the FCT Administration.
The FCT Minister and the administration subsequently approached the court, arguing that the strike action was unlawful given that the dispute had already been referred to the National Industrial Court for resolution.
They contended that allowing the industrial action to continue would disrupt essential services and governance activities within the nation’s capital.
Next Hearing Fixed
Following the ruling, the National Industrial Court adjourned the matter to March 23, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
The court’s decision effectively compels all affected workers to return to work while legal proceedings continue.
